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ALLATOONA 


A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS. 


By 



NOTICE: — This play is copyrighted and all rights reserved. 
Stage Edition. 

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CHARACTERS. 


ELDRED MARSHALL, a private of the Tenth 
Regiment. The regiment is home on furlough. 
Time — Middle of Civil War. 

LAURA GILLFORD, a Northern girl, in love with 
Eldred. 

MARIAN LEE, a Southern girl, also in love with 
Eldred. 

COLONEL KILGORE, of the Tenth Regiment. 
MRS. KILGORE. 

FLANNIGAN, a Captain on General Sherman's 
Staff. 

A GIPSY. 

PROVOST MARSHAL. 

GENERAL SHERMAN. 

BUNKER, Marian's negro servant. 

Officers and soldiers of both armies; town marshal. 


SCENES. 

FIRST ACT — On the lawn of the Gillford home. 
SECOND ACT — A plantation at Kenesaw moun- 
tain. 

THIRD ACT — Gordon Pass, in Georgia. 

FOURTH ACT — A park in Savannah. 



ALLATOONA 

A PLAY 


ACT I. 

[SCENE — The Gillford farmhouse and lawn; Col- 
onel and Mrs. Kilgore; the lattei has her arms 
full of flowers.] 

COL. KILGORE— Well, we’ve had a delightful 
tramp in the woods, anyway; and now, Mrs. Kil- 
gore, if you have all the posies, shrubbery and 
weeds you can carry, suppose we meander off to- 
wards home. Bless me! if we haven’t run right on 
to the Gillfords’ dooryard here. How natural ev- 
erything looks — same old house, same old rosebush, 
same old pump, same old tin cup, on the same old 
nail! Let’s have a drink. [Goes to pump.] Nothing 
has changed since I went to the war, two years ago. 
It doesn’t seem possible. [Cheers.] Listen! That’s 
the boys of my regiment down at the fair grounds. 
How they have enjoyed their furlough ! 


b 


Allatoona. 


MRS. KILGORE — And just to think how soon 
you must go south again ! Oh, I hate to think of 
it! 

COL. KILGORE — Yes; the time’s already up; 
our furlough has expired. 

MRS. KILGORE — Oh, it’s a shame to go so 
soon ! But I’m coming down to see you in almost 
no time. [Sees rosebush.] Look, what roses! Let 

me put one on your coat. [Does so.] There, now! 

« 

Ah, see; over there is Laura Gillford’s berry farm. 
[Looks off the stage.] You know she took to ber- 
ry growing when the war broke out; first for fun, 
and then to make lots of money ; and now just to be 
a pretty little boss. Three thousand boxes a week ! 
It’s a sight to see her with her army of boys and 
girls, her boxing, and counting, and packing, and 
shipping. I guess she’s the best-natured girl, too, 
in the world. She does everything by pure good- 
ness ; and, then, she’s so everlastingly handsome ! 


Allatoona. 


7 


That girl could have her pick, you know, of any- 
body in the county. 

COL. KILGORE — Ha, ha ! her pick ! Why in 
thunder, then, does she pick on that swell-head, El- 
dred Marshall — the most conceited jackanapes in 
my regiment, and only a private at that? 

MRS. KILGORE — But, dear, private or no pri- 
vate, he is very brave; isn’t he? He took the rebel 
flag at Lookout; didn’t he? 

COL. KILGORE — Yes; by reckless deviltry — 
not by bravery. 

MRS. KILGORE — But the men of your regi- 
ment do think him just great. Why, they just carry 
him around, down at the fair grounds. Yes; they 
think him immense. 

COL. KILGORE — Yes; that’s just it; so do the 
fool girls in this town. I hate the upstart ! If Miss 
Laura wants to know what she’s about to marry, 
bring her to the camp with you, when you come 
south. She’ll get her eyes opened. She’ll discover 


8 


Allatoona. 


that a private, policing camp and living on hard 
tack is a mighty different thing from a private on 
furlough, carrying his arm in a sling, and flirting 
with the girls. See if she doesn’t! 

MRS. KILGORE — I wonder myself where the 
girl’s pride’s gone to. 

COL. KILGORE— She’s got none! 

MRS. KILGORE — Oh, yes; she’s pride itself — 
she’s madly ambitious, besides. She hopes to see 
Eldred an officer yet — Colonel of your regiment, 
when you're made General ! Why , that purring lit- 
tle babe has ambition and courage enough to be an 
Alexander. 

COL. KILGORE— Well, Eldred Marshall will 
never be an officer with my consent ; mark that. 

MRS. KILGORE — The Governor may promote 
him for that flag business — then 

COL. KILGORE — I’ll put the commission in 
my pocket. Eldred Marshall shall never see it. I 
am Colonel of the Tenth Regiment. I guess. I’ll 


Allatoona. 


9 


not forget his popularity-seeking and his trying to 
make me ridiculous with the men. [Marian, in a 
green velvet dress and picture hat. listens unob- 
served.] 

MRS. KILGORE — And I’ll not forget how 
once he danced with Miss Gillford and left me sit- 
ting there like a wall-flower. 

COL. KILGORE— Oh, well; she’ll desert him 
quick enough. Wait till she sees a private in the 
camp. She’ll desert him for an officer in a week. 
I wonder what’s become of Eldred Marshall’s other 
girl ; that one he had at college in Kentucky, just 
as the war broke out? 

MRS. KILGORE — Oh, you mean Marian Lee: 
poor, infatuated Marian Lee ! I guess she finished 
herself up long ago. I heard she killed herself 
down there. They found a body in the Ohio river, 
you know. 

MARIAN [passes again without their seeing 


10 


Allatoona. 


her] — Infatuated ! Infatuated ! Dead in the Ohio 
river! Do they think that? 

COL. KILGORE [boy passes] — Hello! There’s 
a telegraph boy. 

BOY— Is this Col. Kilgore? 

COL. KILGORE— It is. 

BOY — A telegram for you, sir. 

COL. KILGORE [reads it]— -Gods! Look here! 
It’s from General Sherman. Forest’s guerrilla cav- 
alry’s raiding Kentucky. They’ve got it in for you 
They’ll wreck the train. Keep the hour of your 
going south a dead secret. — Sherman. 

MRS. KILGORE— My God! What’s that? You 
sha’n’t go ! Revoke the orders ; stay here till the 
raid’s over. 

COL. KILGORE — Can’t do it. The Secretary 
of War orders us to the front at once. There are 
big rumors that Sherman will burn Atlanta, cut ev- 
erything behind him, and start for the ocean with a 


Allatoona. 


11 


hundred thousand men. It’ll make him a bigger 
man than old Grant. The newspaper generals call 
Sherman crazy ; Lincoln says he wishes he could 
find a thousand crazy men like Sherman. 

MRS. KILGORE— Don’t go! You will be 
wrecked and killed. 

COL. KILGORE — Don’t you fear. Nobody 
knows when the train leaves. You couldn’t find out 
for a million dollars. It’s a dead secret. 

MRS. KILGORE — Dead secret! There are no 
dead secrets up here in the north. Spies are every- 
where; everybody’s watched. I am alarmed! 

COL. KILGORE — Nonsense! Do you look for 
spies away up here in Iowa? 

MRS. KILGORE — Certainly! Only yesterday 
a strange young woman in a green velvet dress and 
a picture hat excited attention when the band 
played in the village park. 

COL. KILGORE — Tut, tut! Don’t be alarmed. 
The Southern Confederacy isn’t sending pretty 


12 


Allatoona. 


girls up here in green velvet dresses and picture 
hats, to spy out the country. 

MRS. KILGORE — And why not? Women are 
not so much afraid of war’s excitements as men 
imagine. Even our pretty, little, soft, sweet, dear, 
harmless Laura does little but talk of war and regi- 
ments and signal flags and the like — it’s amusing. 
Why, that babe even trains her berry girls to move 
around by signal. They say Eldred Marshall 
taught her how to do it. 

COL. KILGORE — Well, well! How ridiculous! 
[Drums heard.] There’s parade call; we must go. 
[Exeunt.] 

MARIAN [entering and looking cautiously 
about] — So! She’ll desert him; Laura Gillford will 
— that’s what I heard the Colonel say this minute. 
Eldred Marhall shall know that. I wonder if he 
thinks I am in the Ohio river, dead? I know he 
doesn’t! That cold parting from me, though, in 
Kentucky, might have killed me. What a note that 


Allatoona. 


13 


was! Ten words in which to say good-bye forever! 
So they think me dead ! But here I am, I — Marian 
Lee — a Southern spy in a Northern town. Who in 
this world ever would have thought that? What 
strange things love can do! What am I here for? 
To find out when the Tenth Regiment goes south. 
That moment I am to send Forest a cipher tele- 
gram; and he — he — will ambush and wreck the 
train. [Pauses.] Great God! Is that what I am 
here for? Murder? Oh, love — love! Does love 
impel a thing like that? I am not here to murder! 
Great heavens, no ! I saw Eldred Marshall to-day in 
the village park. He did not know me. I almost 
touched his hand. That instant my love burned a 
thousand times anew. I had one moment of the 
bliss of paradise. I was no longer the rejected; I 
was the happy woman. Oh, what pain love brings ! 
It is like the harbinger of death hid in leaves of 
roses. Oh, I must — if for one instant only — see 
him again — speak to him. Oh, he is here; so near: 
and I — I dare not see him — speak [pauses] — I will 


14 


Allatoona. 


— I will dare — I will, this hour. So this is Laura 
Gillford’s home! To-day she has a festival. I know 
it all. He will be here. I, too, will be here. What 
would Laura Gillford think to see me here? — me — 
Marian Lee, who would walk around God’s whole 
green earth for one hand clasp of her acknowledged 
lover. [Singing heard.] Hark! It is her festival. 
1 must be quick. [Exit.] 

[Berry girls enter, cheering and singing.] 

FIRST GIRL — To-day the berrypicking’s 
done; huzza! huzza! for laugh and fun. 

SECOND GIRL [swings her box] — I’ve forty 
boxes ; who has more ? 

THIRD GIRL — I’ve picked to-day just forty- 
four. 

FOURTH GIRL — I’ve thirty boxes, fair and 
fine. What girl has got such fruit as mine? 

FIFTH GIRL — I’ll buy some ribbon for my 
hair. 

SIXTH GIRL — And I a dress for Sunday wear. 


Allatoona. 


15 


ALL — Look, look! Sweet Laura’s coming here. 
Quick, boys and girls, let’s give a cheer. 

[Laura enters; they cheer.] 

LAURA — This is perfectly lovely in all of you. 
What a happy coincidence, too. The week’s work 
is over, and here’s my birthday, all at once. 

GIRLS — Huzza ! huzza ! 

LAURA — To-day every one of you gets a pres- 
ent, and double wages. And everyone shall take a 
box of berries to the soldiers at the fair grounds. 
The regiment will soon go back south ; let our 
blessings and our cheers go with them. 

MRS. GILLFORD — And here, daughter dear, is 
a present to the soldiers from the aid society. You 
and the girls must carry them with you. What is 
it? Look! Bandages, housewives and havelocks : 
and in every housewife there’s a letter from some 
pretty girl. [The girls put the havelocks on, and 
parade about.] 

FIRST GIRL [mounts a bench] — And here’s to 


16 


Allatoona. 


Laura Gillford, the best and sweetest mistress any- 
body ever worked for. Huzza, girls! [All cheer.] 
And now for a song. [They sing.] 

My lover is a soldier lad. 

His uniform is blue. 

Oh, well I love my soldier lad, 

For he was ever true. 

The bugle sounds; he marches off. 

God bring him back to me ! 

For, oh, I love my soldier lad, 

Wherever he ma}^ be. 

Oh, if a bullet strike him dead, 

In death he will be true, 

And I will shed a tear for him, 

My soldier boy in blue. 

LAURA [moved and almost in tears] — Oh. 
thank you, girls — a thousand times! [Girls go off.] 
[A messenger hands Laura a letter.] 


Allatoona. 


17 


LAURA — It is from Eldred Marshall. [Reads it] 
Dear Laura — I have big news. It is a dead secret, 
but the regiment leaves at nine to-morrow night. I 
go along. The doctor says I may. I come to you 
at once. — Eldred. Oh, oh, oh ! That means fare- 
well, perhaps forever! 

GIPSY [enters] — May I tell your fortune, little 
maid? 

LAURA [aside; collects herself] — I’ll let her: 
I’ll let her. [Aloud.] Is seventeen years so very 
little, Gipsy? 

GIPSY — Quite right; this is your birthday, lit- 
tle girl. [Shows cards.] Look here! Four hearts 
and a joker; the combination happens only in the 
month of August, exactly on the 17th. See! Four 
times four make sixteen, and a joker — that’s seven- 
teen. May I see your hand, little one? Cards tell 
the past — the future is in the lines of the hand. 
[Takes her hand.] Just so — just so; the fates have 
many things for you, little girl. Yes, yes! I see 


18 


Allatoona. 


you have a lover ! He is in the army ; he goes back 
to the war. Is it true? 

LAURA — Too true! Will he return? 

GIPSY— He may. 

LAURA — And will he love me still? 

GIPSY [looks again] — Another will love him 
better — better than you can. 

LAURA — Impossible ! Impossible ! 

GIPSY — Have you his picture? I would see 
his eyes, his hair, his nose, even; ’tis thus we read 
the characters of men in love. 

LAURA — I have his picture; I will bring it — 
quick. [She goes, but drops Eldred’s letter. Gipsy 
picks it up and reads it aloud.] 

GIPSY [with emotion] — My God! Here is ev- 
erything — the dreadful secret. I did not seek it — 
spite of me, it is here ! See this : To-morrow night 
at nine the train goes, and Eldred Marshall goes 
along. I did not know he was in the Tenth; I 
thought he was in the Seventh Regiment. And that 


Allatoona. 


19 


telegram! Oh! heaven direct me! [She kneels.] 
My sworn duty is to the South — my South. My 
love — my heart — is — Oh, this is cruel! War is cruel 
as the grave, but this — this is bitter, burning hell. 
He will be on that train. Can love impel a thing 
like this? Must I send that telegram? I will de- 
serve God’s curse. I will not send it. What shall 
I do? [Sees Laura coming back; rises.] 

LAURA — Here it is. [Marian clutches at 
it and gazes with emotion.] But, look! There 
comes the original; there’s Eldred himself. [To El- 
dred as he enters, arm in sling.] Oh, Eldred; here’s 
a pretty little gipsy who tells fortunes. She can tell 
just everything. She told my birthday, my age, 
and — and — oh! such things, too, of you. You must 
have your fortune told. Come on now, quick. [He 
comes and kisses Laura.] 

ELDRED — You got my letter, Laura? 

LAURA — You are not going, Eldred? 


20 


Allatoona. 


ELDRED — Well; let us see. What say my 
stars, then ? Come. 

LAURA — Oh, I know she’ll like you. Why, just 
to see your picture seemed to move her so. Oh, I’m 
glad she’s not my rival. She’s so young, so beauti- 
ful — and — and — 

ELDRED — You have no rival, dear. [Kisses 
her.] She does look young for a real, true, old 
gipsy, doesn’t she? And, suddenly, she seems all 
upset. I expect she only tells pretty girls’ fortunes 
— promises them rich husbands and pretty children. 
Well, gipsy girl [goes to gipsy], here’s my hand. 
Why, don’t squeeze it so. And now you let it go — 
don’t do that, either. There now, read my fate. How 
.shine my stars? It’s not so bad, is it? [Aside.] 
By George, how she trembles! It must be some- 
thing very bad. [Aloud.] Well? 

GIPSY — You are a soldier. 

ELDRED — Of course; see this arm; this uni- 


form. 


Allatoona. 


21 


GIPSY — You are one in a thousand — you bear 
a charmed life — and yet — 

~ ELDRED — Will I be killed? 

GIPSY — The lines are bad — yes! 

LAURA — Oh, Eldred ; it is not true ! 

/ 

ELDRED — No, no ; Laura. IPs guessing only 
she’s doing. IPs fun. 

LAURA — I will not hear it. [Goes.] 

GIPSY — You are in the Tenth — the fated regi- 
ment. See; it moves to-morrow night. 

ELDRED — No one knows that; its moving is a 
dead secret. 

GIPSY — To-morrow night at nine. I read se- 
crets; I know. 

ELDRED — How do you know? 

GIPSY — Never mind. See these lines. 

ELDRED [aside] — I wonder how she knows. 
How strange. It almost unnerves me. 


22 


Allatoona. 


GIPSY — Eldred Marshall I give you warning — 
Do not go on that train. 

ELDRED — How do you know my name? 

GIPSY — Never mind — don’t go. 

ELDRED— Why? 

GIPSY — Don’t go ; that is enough. 

ELDRED [aside] — I wonder what in heaven 
she means. [Aloud.] What is the danger? 

GIPSY [with deep emotion] — Don’t go. 

ELDRED — Why do you tremble? 

GIPSY [much agitated] — You will be killed. 

ELDRED [trying to be cool] — Would you care? 

GIPSY— Don’t go. 

ELDRED [moved] — Would my life be some- 
thing to you? 

GIPSY— Don’t go. 

ELDRED [steps away; aside] — How handsome 
she is — young — what eyes! I almost thought I 
knew her voice. [Aloud, going to her.] You are too 


Allatoona. 


23 


fair, too young, for such a life. Is it for bread you 
do this? May I help you? [Offers money.] 

GIPSY— No! 

ELDRED — What, then? 

GIPSY — More, a thousand times more. 

ELDRED — For love? 

GIPSY— For love ! 

ELDRED — He is a scoundrel who deserts you. 
Only a villain could do that ! Who is he? Where? 
I’ll drive him to the earth — villain ! 

GIPSY — No, no! No villain; no desertion! No, 
no; I am happy, happy in these rags, happy this 
very moment. [She looks longingly at Eldred, and 
pauses — is much moved.] Ask nothing further. 

ELDRED [aside] — My God, that’s strange! For 

a moment — I — I She’s no gipsy. I will try her. 

[Aloud.] You have secret powers. Tell me; you 
speak of love; now — has — any — one — loved — me? 

GIPSY— Yes; madly. 


24 


Allatoona. 


ELDRED— Loves still ? 

GIPSY— Madly ! 

ELDRED — You have seen her? 

GIPSY — With you; just now. 

ELDRED — Impossible — unless ghosts walk in 
broad daylight. [Aside.] I think she’s crazy. 
[Aloud.] Where else was she? 

GIPSY — Down south ; perhaps it was Kentucky. 

ELDRED— When? 

GIPSY — Two years ago. 

ELDRED [aside] — This is marvelous. She 
speaks of Marian Lee; there is not a doubt; poor, 
infatuated Marian Lee. I cut loose from her the day 
I left the college. [Aloud.] What is the color of her 
hair ? 

GIPSY — Sweet brown. 

ELDRED — Her eyes? 

GIPSY — Heaven’s blue. 

ELDRED— Her face? 


Allatoona. 


25 


GIPSY — White as a lily. 

ELDRED [aside] — Astounding! Save her rags, 
she herself could be a Marian Lee. [Aloud.] And she 
loves me yet? 

GIPSY — She would go bare-footed around the 
green earth for you. 

I 

ELDRED — How long ago was that, did you 
say? 

GIPSY — Two years. 

ELDRED [aside] — Astounding! Astounding! 
She knows the very time. She reads my mind, per- 
haps; perhaps she knows Marian. 

[Noises; she starts; Town Marshal enters.] 

MARSHAL — Have you seen a woman dressed 
in green velvet pass this way? 

ELDRED — No. What’s the matter? 

MARSHAL — She is to be arrested; she is a spy. 
[Looks at the gipsy.] Who’s this? [Marian starts.] 
What are these cattle doing around the village? 


26 


Allatoona. 


They may be spies ! I will arrest her. [To Gipsy.] 
Come along with me. 

ELDRED [aside] — I must know more; he must 
not take her. [Aloud.] No; wait; she must not be ar- 
rested. You have no right. She is not a spy. Get 
your warrant first. 

MARSHAL — I need none. 

ELDRED — Then leave her here. This is private 
ground. I am responsible. Go your way. 

MARSHAL— I will not. 

ELDRED — One whistle from me and the whole 
Tenth Regiment is on your back. The nearest mill- 
pond will be your grave. We soldiers run this town 
now — understand that! 

MARSHAL — I guess that’s so. Are you of the 
Tenth? 

ELDRED — I am. 

MARSHAL — Then I leave her. 

ELDRED — Indeed you will; now go! [To gip- 


Allatoona. 


27 


sy.] Never mind the little village pop-guns. Go on 
and tell me more — more — I like all this. What else? 
Look further. Have I had other loves? 

GIPSY [recovers herself] — One only. 

ELDRED — Is she true? 

GIPSY — At present. 

ELDRED — Will she always love me? 

GIPSY — She is proud. 

ELDRED— And then? 

GIPSY — She is ambitious. 

ELDRED— Then? 

GIPSY — She will desert you. 

ELDRED — So, so — 

GIPSY — Mark it; you are a private soldier; she 
a beautiful, proud, ambitious woman. 

ELDRED — She is dear and sweet. 

GIPSY — No matter; you will lose her. You are 
beneath her station, her ambition; you know it. You 
may go up — be advanced. 


28 


Allatoona. 


ELDRED— If not? 

GIPSY— You lose her. 

ELDRED — It’s a lie ! 

GIPSY — Mark me ; it is God’s truth. If you do 
not believe me, trv her; tell her you are refused a 
commission ; that you will never be more than a pri- 
vate soldier. 

ELDRED [aside] — I fear she will be tried, spite 
of me. [Alouti.] Then what? 

GIPSY — I have told you ; she will find another ; 
she will love some officer. 

ELDRED [at front of stage and aside] — Could 
this all be true? I do not believe it. Yet this gipsy 
woman has told some truths — how, I know not. A 
gipsy once foretold my mother’s marriage, my birth, 
even this war. I believe in nothing, nothing they 
tell me. Yes, I do — a little. See here [goes to front 
of stage ; aside] then Laura will indeed be tried, 
for I will never receive a commission in the 
Tenth Regiment. I know that the Colonel hates me. 


Allatoona. 


29 


Yes, she will be tried. She will be tried to the end 
of the war. If she remains faithful, as I know she 
will, the commander of Sherman’s army will not be 
so happy as private Eldred Marshall. [Exit.] 

GIPSY — Oh, he is gone! He did not know me; 
but I have seen him — spoken — heard his voice — 
touched his hand — happy, infatuated, crazy Marian 
Lee. And she, she loves him — and he — did I not 
see his love for her? Where did he go? To her — 
to her ! [Looks after him.] God, how I contained my- 
self ! I had the chance — before her very eyes. I could 
have thrown my arms about his neck — kissed him — 
kissed him — killed her— yes, killed her. Now I know 
about the train. I could not help knowing. That 
letter tells it all. At nine to-morrow night ! Oh, un- 
fortunate me — to know the dreadful secret ! Oh, that 
telegram — that telegram! Must I send it? By my 
sworn oath, yes. By my heart’s love, no — never! 
[She goes up and down the stage in anguish — 
pauses.] Yet — perhaps — perhaps Eldred will not go. 


30 


Allatoona. 


My warning moved him — I saw it. Where’s the pa- 
per — I’ll send the telegram [writes]. I have no 
choice [pauses]. God help me; I won’t; I won’t. 
[Tears telegram to pieces.] The Southern Confeder- 
acy may hang me first ; I won’t ! [She pauses ; walks 
about.] Oh, why did Eldred Marshall leave me so 
there at school in Kentucky? Did he not know it 
wmild kill me — kill me? Did he purposely reject 
me? Did he not know a despised, rejected woman’s 
fury — hate? There’s nothing in hell so terrible. No, 
I have not got that — no — no — no! Where is he, I 
wonder, now? Where is Laura Gillford just this 
moment? [She looks from the stage.] It is! It is! 
My God ; look there, under that beech tree — Laura 
Gillford in Eldred Marshall’s arms. Look ! He kisses 
her ! She — she kisses him ! Why am I not blind — 
dead? Oh, should that be — should that be? She hap- 
py, happy in his love, and I — I dying of the pain of 
love and the longing wretchedness that’s worse than 
hell. No, no, no! Now I will act. What! She, she. 


Allatoona. 


31 


Laura Gillford, be in his arms, happy, when one lit- 
tle word of mine could end it all forever? [Seizes 
the paper and writes again.] I must — I must — hell 
itself seems driving me. Laura Gillford — Laura Gill- 
ford — I call to you, Laura Gillford — the telegram is 
signed ! 


[Curtain.] 


«* 



ACT II. 


[SCENE — Brandon Hall, a Colonial mansion on a 
fine plantation at Kenesaw Mountain ; negro cab- 
ins, tents, etc. ; a big American flag at the en- 
trance of the mansion shows it is Sherman’s 
headquarters ; it is also Marian’s home ; a few sol- 
diers in background ; two negroes cleaning 
camp.] 

BUNKER [a negro, servant to Marian] — Well, 
sah, where this Mr. Sherman go next, that beats the 
Lord hisself. Here he am now on Massa Lee’s plan- 
tation. Massa Lee dead or run away ; niggers all set 
free and shoutin’ hallelujah ; cotton gin all burned 
up, and all Kenesaw Mountain nothin’ but a grave- 
yard. ’Pears just like the end of the world cornin’, 
sure enough. Them Yankees must ha’ set a million 
niggers free yesterday; they jes’ poured along the 
roads like blackbirds in springtime. And them’s Mr. 


34 


Allatoona. 


Sherman’s headquarters right there in Massa Lee’s 
parlor ! Reckon he’s got his horses in de kitchen ! 
Wondah what young Miss Marian Lee think of all 
that? Ole man dead; niggers set free — and the 
whole farm carmfiscated. 

SECOND NEGRO — And that’s Kenesaw 
Mountain ! And them’s Mr. Sherman’s camp ! ’Pears 
as I walked a hunderd million miles, barefoot, jes’ 
to get here and holler, ‘I is free.’ 

BUNKER — Well, la sakes! there comes Miss 
Marian right now, jes’ sure’s you’re born, walkin’ 
right along wid one of them Lincoln Captains. Well, 
jes’ look at that! That am mighty queer, for sartin’. 
[Bunker and negro go off and Provost Marshal and 
Marian come down from house ; Marian walks 
around, not under the flag.] 

PROVOST — Well, I am very sorry, Miss Lee, 
that things are as they are. War is war. Nothing 
can be done — nothing. Your house must be occu- 
pied so long as headquarters remain at Kenesaw 


Allatoona. 


35 


Mountain. The advance guard occupied it first, you 
know, because shots were fired on us from its win- 
dows. The wonder is the house was not destroyed. 
When the commander of the army came along, he 
found Brandon Hall convenient for headquarters for 
a few days. You and your servants have been al- 
lowed to remain here. So — here we are — there is no 
use complaining — nothing can be done. The place 
is cared for now. What will happen when we move 
on, heaven only knows, Miss Lee. 

MARIAN— Well, I know. 

PROVOST— What? 

MARIAN — Some of your Yankee thieves will 
leave it in ashes. 

PROVOST [aside] — She is a bit insolent. 
[Aloud.] Ah, you think so — Brandon Hall is worth 
saving — confiscating, even ! 

MARIAN — Fd rather see it burned than in 
Northern hands forever. That would be outrageous! 


36 


Allatoona. 


PROVOST — Oh ! you seem to hate us very much 
Miss Lee. 

MARIAN — I do [pauses] — most of you. 

PROVOST — You are a rebel. 

MARIAN — I am proud to say so. 

PROVOST — You are bitter. 

MARIAN — I am of the South. 

PROVOST— This is Brandon Hall. 

MARIAN — My father's home, and mine. You 
have desecrated it. The feet of your hirelings pol- 
lute the soil of our beautiful South. You are invad- 
ers! Oh, my south; my dear, dear south! Yes, I 
hate you all — nearly all. Here is my dear, dear home. 
All our lives we have lived in this beautiful south- 
land in peace, with culture, quiet and beauty. Our 
h<5mes have been the scenes of hospitality and hap- 
piness; our slaves have been content; our fields 
beautiful. You come — Sherman comes — my God, the 
contrast! What do you bring us? Bayonets, confla- 


Allatoona. 


37 


grations, burning homes, desolate fields, flying 
slaves, robbery, insult, confiscation, murder! 

PROVOST — In short, Miss Lee, we bring you 
war — a war you yourselves began, at Sumpter. 

MARIAN — I don't care. 

PROVOST — Well, you are quite a rebel. 

MARIAN — Were I a man, with sword in hand 
I would join my brothers to-morrow, to fight you at 
every river, to ambush you at every swamp, to de- 
lay, to cut you off and destroy you. This army of 
Sherman’s should never, never reach the sea. His- 
tory should tell of its defeats, and old men should 
relate its horrors to their children’s children. 

PROVOST [smiles] — My — your heat becomes 
you. You are, indeed, a real little rebel. 

MARIAN — I hope so. 

PROVOST — And a real pretty one, too. 

MARIAN — I spurn your compliments. 

PROVOST — You are a little bitter. 


38 


Allatoona. 


MARIAN — No more than ever. I would do most 
anything I — 

PROVOST — And it is therefore, Miss Lee, you 
are under surveillance here at your own home ; spite 
of it you were absent for days lately! May I ask 
where, Miss Lee? 

MARIAN — Ask — -yes. I do not answer. 

PROVOST — No; then I must arrest you. 

MARIAN — Arrest ! Arrest a woman ! 

PROVOST — Sometimes— yes ! 

MARIAN — Me? Me — whose home you dese- 
crate; me, whose father you have murdered? Yes; I 
am your enemy. 

PROVOST — Allow me, Miss Lee — you know 
your father was not murdered. In a skirmish near 
this farm, your father, feeling he was defending his 
own home, possibly fell. No one knows what be- 
came of him ; there is no certainty that he is not with 
the troops that retreated south. He fought honor- 
ably; was honorably jnet. 


Allatoona. 39 

MARIAN — Oh, my father! my father! Here, 
father; here! See here! Here is the flag you died 
for [she flings out a small rebel flag] — the bonny, 
blue flag of the South. One moment, Captain, let 
me wave it one moment again in front of Brandon 
Hall. 

PROVOST — Hold; you are too bold, Miss Lee. 
Give me that rag; there is the flag of your country; 
there is the banner of the world. [Points to Ameri- 
can flag.] 

MARIAN — It is not my flag ; I despise it ! 

PROVOST — Is that why you walked around it 
with such contempt as we came out? 

MARIAN — I never would walk under it. I 
would rather trample it under my feet. 

PROVOST — Oh, no, Miss Lee; you must walk 
under it, not around it. This very moment it pro-* 
tects your home. 

MARIAN — It insults my home. I never will 
walk under it again. 


40 


Allatoona. 


PROVOST — Oh, yes, you will; you must! 

MARIAN — I won’t — never! 

PROVOST — Right now you must. Excuse me — 

MARIAN — I won’t ! 

PROVOST — Corporal, lead this lady under the 
American flag! [Corporal leads her under the flag.] 

MARIAN — You are brutes; I hate you worse 
than ever ! I will have revenge ! 

PROVOST — Oh! no, Miss Lee. Be calm, now; 
you are a prisoner. To-morrow you will be in charge 
of the Tenth Regiment. 

MARIAN — What! the Tenth! You will never 
see the Tenth. 

PROVOST [smiles] — Well, now, Miss Lee, 
why? 

MARIAN — Well, you won’t. 

PROVOST — Miss Lee, let me tell you some- 
thing. The Tenth is South all right. I am the Pro- 
vost Marshal of the army. I know everything. 


Allatoona. 


41 


That some of your friends proposed to wreck a train 
and kill the men of the Tenth, I found out. The 
woman spy they had up North blundered. The guer- 
rillas wrecked the wrong train. She sent a cypher 
telegram to Forest’s raiders — I got that telegram. 
Look; here is the dispatch itself. [Shows dispatch.] 
I would give a thousand dollars for that woman, 
dead or alive. Were she in my hands [Marian man- 
ifests great alarm now], I’d hang her in one minute. 

MARIAN — You’d hang a woman? 

PROVOST — I’d hang a spy! 

MARIAN [aside] — I am lost — lost! 

PROVOST — They sent her picture to me with 
the telegram. Do you know, for a moment I thought 
that woman looked like you ! I have the picture ; you 
shall see it. [To boy.] Boy, bring my portmanteau 
here, quick. It is on the table of my room, upstairs. 
[With a spring Marian disappears; shots heard.] 
Stop that woman — stop her — she is a spy ! 

[Captain Flannigan and a Sergeant enter.] 


42 


Allatoona. 


CAPTAIN — She passed us before we knew it. 
She sprang on one of your saddle horses, Colonel, 
and she is gone — gone — gone! [Laughs.] 

PROVOST — By heavens, why was I here with- 
out my pistols? Marian Lee, the spy, was in my 
hands, and is gone. That gipsy up in Iowa was Ma- 
rian Lee herself — Marian Lee of Brandon Hall. I 
am short a horse anyway, and am a fool besides. 
Lord, Lord, what devilish luck! [Exit Provost.] 

CAPTAIN — By Jove, Sergeant, that is a hell of 
a joke on the Provost, letting that woman get away, 
wasn’t it? Well, well ; we’ll have other petticoats in 
camp pretty soon now. I’ve brought a pair of them. 

SERGEANT — Why, who, Captain? 

CAPTAIN — Why, don’t you know; they sent 
me back fifty miles to get the Colonel's wife and her 
pretty cousin ? Gads ! there’s a girl for you, Ser- 
geant — brown hair, blue eyes, figure of a goddess, 
and a blush and a smile that would drive a heathen 
hell-bent, to madness, and I’m half gone myself. It’s 


Allatoona. 


43 


a week since they started here. They had a devil of 
a time of it. Forest wrecked their train below Nash- 
ville — scared them nearly to death — and got half his 
men killed for his trouble. Misled by a cypher tele- 
gram, he thought he was wrecking the Tenth Regi- 
ment. The Provost got the telegram; the Tenth 
changed its route, and saved itself. Of course the 
ladies reached our rear guard too late to join the 
army, so I have brought them on here. It’s luck we 
halted here so long. 

SERGEANT — But where are these goddesses? 

CAPTAIN — They will be here in no time. They 
stopped at the Colonehs tent to brush up a little. 

SERGEANT — I am dying to see them. 

CAPTAIN — Here’s the situation. Everybody 
nearly’s gone from camp, and I, Capt. Flannigan, 
will enjoy the felicity of introducing the ladies to life 
in the army. [Looks off the stage.] Ah, there they 
come! They’ve left their horses, and in a moment 
they are here. [Aside.] Things stand like this: From 


44 


Allatoona. 


the wife of the Colonel I have learned the young 
miss has got a lover here — ah, ha ! — a private soldier 
at that — the reckless young blackguard of the Tenth 
that took the flag at Lookout. Likely enough 
he’s deceivin’ her, and she don’t know he’s nothing 
but a common private in the ranks! Well, she can 
have one OUT of the ranks in about a minute — in 
short, she’s got him now — and, Captain Flannigan, 
you’re the man. Here they come. [Aloud, as the la- 
dies enter on foot in handsome riding costumes.! 
Ladies, I greet you ; I welcome you to the army in 
the name of the Colonel; also on behalf of yours 
humbly [bow], Captain Flannigan, of the regular 
army, on the staff, inspector of ambulances, etc., etc., 
etc. — yours to command. 

MRS. KILGORE — But, Captain, where’s my 
husband? He was not at his tent when we stopped. 

CAPTAIN — This moment, Madam, I learn that 
he and nearly all the Tenth Regiment have gone to 
the right of the army. It’s ten miles from here. 


Allatoona. 


45 


There’s a little nasty fighting there, at a river cross- 
ing. 

LAURA — The Tenth, did you say? 

CAPTAIN — Every son of a gun — all at the 
front. 

LAURA — Not one excused? Not one here to 
meet us? 

CAPTAIN — Not one, save — [he bows.] 

LAURA — Not even Eldred? I — I mean Mr. Mar- 
shall — Eldred Marshall, you know. 

CAPTAIN — Ah — um — I see — I see [coughs] — 
Private Eldred Marshall. Oh, no! Privates are all 
needed at the front. They are the blackguards that 
do the fighting, you know ! 

LAURA [much nettled] — But don’t the officers 
fight? 

MRS. KILGORE — Of course they do, Laura. 
Why, what are you thinking about? The dear Cap- 
tain was only joking. The charges and all that — 
the taking of places, you know — that’s always done 


46 


Allatoona. 


by the officers. You read about it in the newspapers. 
My dear husband has told me a thousand times how 
he and the generals stormed up Lookout just in time 
to save the privates from all being killed. Haven’t 
you seen the big gold sword my husband, the dear 
Colonel, got for taking a fort somewhere? 

LAURA [amazed and perplexed] — Why, why — 
yes — but you know I thought he was behind that 
day — sick; or his horse broke down; or something. 
I thought the men took the fort. Wasn’t that where 
Eldred got wounded taking the rebel flag? 

MRS. KILGORE — Yes, yes! [embarrassed] but 
it was confidence in their commander, you know. 
They knew he was — was — was — some place. 

CAPTAIN [coughs; aside] — Yes, some place — 
that’s good. [Exit Mrs. Kilgore, with Sergeant.] 

LAURA [aside] — There’s something in it, then. 
How often I’ve heard that a private is a nobody ex- 
cept when home on furlough. But Eldred’s a pri- 
vate, and he is somebody — the only somebody in the 


Allatoona. 


47 


world, I think ! I wonder if the Captain has stormed 
places and taken forts? [Looks at him.] He doesn’t 
look like it. Yet he’s just handsome enough to do 
most anything. He might storm a woman’s heart 
easy enough. I am sure I like his brogue. How 
handsome his uniform is — my! 

CAPTAIN — You are a famous rider, Miss Gill- 
ford ; I saw it on the way here. You took my breath 
by your horseback elegance. What is the adage — * 
“A handsome horse and a handsome girl, make a 
man’s heart go pit-a-pat, whirl.” My heart’s been on 
the whirl all the way down here. 

LAURA [laughing] — Your head, too, seems 
turned a little, Captain! 

CAPTAIN — Oh, now, but you’re the guilty one, 
and none but you can turn it back again. We have 
such fine horses in the camp — Kentuckians, every 
one of them. The foraging boys bring them from 
the plantations, you know. You will honor me with 
some horseback rides about the camp now, won’t 


48 


Allatoona. 


you? Oh, yes; I see a “yes” sparkling in the mis- 
chief of your eye — in the rose blush of your pretty 
cheek. 

LAURA — What perfect nonsense, Captain; and 
you’ve been at it all the way here. 

CAPTAIN — And I’ll be at it till the world stops 
its runnin’ ’round. What perfectly elegant times 
we’ll have in the camp ! Save ridin’, we gentlemen 
of the staff have just nothing else to do. 

LAURA [smiling] — Except taking forts, and 
storming places, and doing the fighting, you know. 

CAPTAIN [coughs] — Come now; you’re hard 
on us, Miss Gillford ; hard on gentlemen of the head- 
quarters. 

LAURA [aside] — I see my way; I will humor 
this dainty coxcomb just a little, little bit. He shall 
think I am dead in love with him. He can help me 
to get the ear of General Sherman. I’ll try him. [She 
smiles coquettishly on him.] How perfectly lovely 


Allatoona. 


49 


it must be to be on the commander’s staff [he bows] 
— and you know Sherman so well, Captain? 

CAPTAIN — Intimately, Miss Gillford. As I told 
you coming here, I ride with him from column to 
column. Sometimes he says to me, “Captain Flanni- 
gan, should we attack here, or yonder?” I, with a 
little emphasis, cry, “Not here — yonder — yonder!” 
And away, bang, fling, bang, bang, go the horses 
and the cannon! 

LAURA — How perfectly lovely that must be! 
[He bows.] You know, on the way down, Captain, 
you promised I should see the great Sherman. 

CAPTAIN — Indeed ! Indeed ! Leave that to me. 
Nothing is easier. 

LAURA — I don’t mean just to see him — but to 
talk to him — interview, or what is it you call it? 

CAPTAIN— Ah! That is different. He won’t 
receive women alone — he won’t hear of them. 
[Pauses.] 

LAURA [aside] — I wonder what the General 


50 


Allatoona. 


will think, then, of the letter I wrote him, asking 
the promotion of Eldred? 

CAPTAIN — Wait; leave that to me. Yes, I will 
attempt it. Allow me — your face, your smiles, your 
loveliness, shall be my aids. 

LAURA — What perfect nonsense! Well, how 
lovely you are to do that, Captain. [Aside.] I hope 
I am not doing something wrong — Think of it! I 
will see the commander. I will plead for Eldred — 
he shall be promoted ; wear a sword, a sash, and — 
and — [Aloud.] To-morrow, then, Captain? 

CAPTAIN — To-morrow, Miss Laura — I hope I 
may call you that — mayn’t I? 

LAURA — Oh ! anything, so I may just see Gen- 
eral Sherman. It’s lovely in you, Captain. 

CAPTAIN [aside] — Anything! Think of that! 
Flannigan, you lucky dog — confound you, think of 
it ! Anything ! That’s business ; that’s campaigning — 
that is! By gum, “anything” — gee whillikens, Jeru- 
salem — “anything !” I know what I will call her by 


Allatoona. 


51 


and by — Mrs. Laura Gillford Flannigan, by gum ! — • 
that’s it — “anything !” 

[Cheers heard.] 

LAURA — Why, Captain, what’s all that noise? 

CAPTAIN — That’s the foragers. You’re just in 
time. Sherman's "bummers” coming to camp at sun- 
down. [Foragers in motley garb enter; some ne- 
groes with them.] Here they come, the yelling 
blackguards. They’re a handsome lot of devils. See 
Miss Laura, every rascal’s got a sheep, or a rooster. 
I wonder how many plantations they’ve cleaned out 
to-day ? 

LAURA — And the black people, Captain? 

CAPTAIN — They’re the freed niggers. About a 
hundred million of them block the roadways, prais- 
in’ God and shoutin’ hallelujah. At night they come 
and serenade the camp with their plantation melo- 
dies. [Foragers sing.] 


52 


Allatoona. 


Oh, here’s to the bummer who longest 
can ride — 

A sheep on his shoulder, a gun at his 
side — 

And to every good fellow who goes on 
before, 

To forage good food for the Grand 
Army Corps. • 

[Twilight comes on.] 

CAPTAIN — But, bless me, it is coming night. 
May I have the honor to show you to your tent, 
Miss Laura? [Conducts her to a tent; darkness in- 
creases as the two go out.] 

[Foragers and negroes go out; Bunker and an- 
other negro enter.] 

BUNKER — Well, sah; I reckons as taps’ll beat 
afore long, and then dis nigger he goes to bed, he 
does. I’se pretty tired, I is — ridin’ fifty miles on that 
blamed mule, follerin’ Captain Flannigan and them 
there women to-day. Wonder if that ’ere Captain’s 


Allatoona. 


53 


’fraid to go alone? That’s why he jes’ tuk me along, 
’case he knowed I knowed every ’possum path and 
wagon road in the state of Georgia. Say, did you 
see that young white gal what we’uns brought along 
down? Pow’ful pretty, she is. Guess the Captain 
he’s dead gone on her, sure enough. Them two jes’ 
rode together, holdin’ hands like, and smilin’ on one 
another all the way. Where’s all them Tenth Regi- 
ment fellows, Jumbo? 

JUMBO — Oh, they’s been scrimmagin’ all day 
down there at the run ; they’s jes’ now come back. 
They’s on guard to-night, they is. 

BUNKER — Listen ! Hear them cottonfield nig- 
gers singin’ hallelujah for Mr. Lincoln and Mr. 
Sherman. They’s cornin’. [Slaves with bundles and 
torches, some in chains, enter, sobbing and praying; 
moon rises a little; stage is lighter; Eldred seen 
guarding Laura’s tent; she does not know it.] 

SLAVE — Sure enough ; this am the day of God’s 


54 


Allatoona. 


people. Now am the time of jubilee. [They kneel 
in the moonlight and sing.] 

Last night I heard the whippoorwill, 
Good-bye ; 

I think I hear his sweet voice still, 

Good-bye, plantation. 

An angel brought some good news round, 
Good-bye ; 

Oh, don’t you hear the joyful sound? 
Good-bye, plantation. 

Oh, if you never prayed before, 

Good-bye ; 

Just now you’s bound to pray the more, 
“Good-bye, plantation. 

I think I hear the angels sing, 

Good-bye ; 

Oh, don’t you hear the angel’s wing? 
Good-bye, plantation. 


Allatoona. 


55 


Oh, make your garments clean and white, 
Good-bye ; 

Great news has come to you this night, 
Good-bye, plantation. 

Oh, Massa Linkum, make us free, 

Good-bye ; 

Oh, let us hail the jubilee, 

Good-bye, plantation. 

[The moon brightens; Laura is seen standing in 
tent ddor, listening; slaves go off slowly.] 

LAURA [looking about] — What a scene this is! 
What moonlight ! How enchanting that music ! It 
must be morning, yet I scarcely slept. Eldred, El- 
dred — I did not answer his letter. I have come a 
thousand miles to answer with my own lips; to see 
his face. Too late — he is gone — perhaps forever! 
What did he write me? “To-morrow,” he said, “may 
be the battle. If I fall it will be as a private soldier 
at the post of duty.” How I wish he were an offi- 
cer. He says there is no hope — yet he must, he shall 


56 


Allatoona. 


be promoted. I will seek it for him. Perhaps Gen- 
eral Sherman will answer my letter. He can do ev- 
erything ; and the Captain this very morning will ar- 
range an interview. Oh, morning, come — come soon ! 
Look; it is the dawn! How beautiful it is! [Exit 
Laura.] 

ELDRED [to Corporal of Guard approaching] 
— Who comes there? 

CORPORAL — Corporal of the Guard. 

ELDRED — Advance and give the countersign. 
[He does so.] The countersign is right. 

CORPORAL— All well here? 

ELDRED — Everything. Once I thought I heard 
a woman talking. 

CORPORAL — No wonder, Marshall. Fellows 
in love hear most anything. It is nonsense guarding 
this tent at all. There is nothing in it but broken 
muskets. How lovely the moonlight. 

ELDRED — It is like our moonlight in the North. 


Allatoona. 


57 


What is it Shakespeare says of such a night? He 
says it is like music, and he tells Jessica to sit down 
and look how all the floor of heaven is thick inlaid 
with patines of bright gold. It’s lovely, isn’t it? 

CORPORAL — And your Jessica, comrade; 
where is she this moonlight night? Tell me about 
her now. One could think from your hints that she 
must be a crowned queen. 

ELDRED — And queen she is, too — my queen, 
and crowned with her own dear loveliness. It hap- 
pened thus: Love is an inspiration, a glance, a 
touch, and it is born. One sunlit afternoon, walking 
together on a grassy -slope, we stopped to gather vio- 
lets — she and I. A calm, deep river swept at our 
feet. We stood and gazed. Her eyes were on the 
placid stream, and mine — they were on her. I saw 
a rosy blush across her cheek ; a certain light spoke 
in her eye — and suddenly, suddenly, as if from 
heaven, a something touched me — my fate was there 
— I was in love. 


58 


Allatoona. 


CORPORAL— Well, well! Did she speak? 

ELDRED — No — and yes. There was a glance, 
a blush, that spoke a language none but lovers un- 
derstand. 

CORPORAL — Well, comrade, good night; good 
morning, rather. I leave you to the moonlight and 
your queen. [He goes; Eldred paces farther from 
the tent.] 

ELDRED — It seems a year since Laura said 
farewell — on such a night — by the rosebush, on her 
father’s farm. Oh ! could I see her one moment only 
— here — here ! Alas ! She is a thousand miles away. 
[Laura at tent door, but does not hear.] My last 
letter even was never answered. Why? Was the 
gipsy right? Will she, can she, tire of me because 
I have no rank. I will not believe it ; besides, some 
day — elsewhere — my merit may advance me. I’ll de- 
serve it, though it cost my life. Oh ! Laura, one word 
this night, and I were happy. [He takes up the call 
heard outside, five o’clock.] Five o’clock, and all is 


Allatoona. 


59 


well. [Laura appears again; Eldred is relieved from 
liis post.] 

LAURA — Hark, that call ! ’Tis not all well ! Oh, 
my heart, my heart! Where to-night is Eldred? — 
perhaps — perhaps — [Bugle sounds.] Listen; there is 
the reveille — the morning comes. [Exit.] 

[Daylight comes ; Bunker and a negro enter, po- 
licing camp.] 

BUNKER — Hello, nigger! Where’s you bin all 
this here blessed night? I hearn say su’thin’s up. 
There ain’t no use in them reveilles makin’ so much 
noise this late in the mornin’— half the soldiers left 
the camp down there at midnight, jes’ quiet as you 
please. Su’thin’ up ; sure’s you born. The whole 
camp’s empty as a cracker box. Listen! [Explosions 
heard, far off.] Guess they’s blowin’ up Atlanta — 
hear them booms. 

[Laura has left tent by back door; meets Mrs. 
Kilgore.] 

MRS. KILGORE — Good morning, Laura; after 


60 


Allatoona. 


your first night in the army, I’m glad you’re up so 
early. They say there was great excitement with 
the advance guard on our right, ten miles from here. 
Once at midnight I thought I heard a cannon. They 
say everybody’s out of camp. We two women seem 
to be about all that’s left to guard headquarters. 

LAURA — Hark! Wasn’t that a gun? 

MRS. KILGORE — There are dreadful rumors. 
Some say Sherman’s army is surrounded ; that Hood 
with fifty thousand men got behind us in the night. 
[Noise in distance.] Some say we are blowing up 
Atlanta. 

LAURA— What is that? 

MRS. KILGORE — My God! It is the long roll, 
calling the soldiers to fall in. [Ladies go to one side ; 
Flannigan comes down the steps from the house.] 

FLANIGAN [aside] — Hear that! Egad! there’ll 
be work to-day ; I must to horse. But first I must 
hunt up the ladies. Bless me ! yonder they are. Ha, 
ha ! that was a pretty little trick Miss Laura played 


Allatoona. 


61 


on me. She asks me to get her a meeting with Gen- 
eral Sherman, when I’ll be blessed if she wasn’t 
writin’ him love letters in the most familiar way, all 
the time. By chance I saw her letter on the General’s 
open desk this very morning. Eh ! The little minx 
openly and unblushingly tells the General she is in 
love with one of his soldiers, and she begs him to 
make him a captain on the staff ! Heavenly Moses ! 
that girl’s been fooling me! Flannigan, you are a 
blamed fool. Well, I’ll be even with her. That in- 
terview — she’ll not get that — not this year — will she, 
Flannigan? Well, I guess not. So I may call her 
“anything?” Lord of Moses, she’s an infernal little 
flirt — that’s what I call her. Flanigan, you’re a d — 
d — d — fool, you are! [He goes over to the ladies.] 
Ah ! the top of the mornin’ to you, sweet ladies ! You 
are up with the lark; or was it the nasty cannon 
raised you from your slumbers? 

MRS. KILGORE — Oh, dear! Captain; why 
shouldn’t we be up with such terrible news going? 


62 


Allatoona. 


LAURA — Dear Captain; it is arranged, is it — 
the interview with the General? 

FLANIGAN [aside] — Well, scarcely. [Aloud.] 
Oh, yes; Miss Gillford — that is, not to-day — soon, 
you know — the commander is so overwhelmed with 
duty. But [Coughs and looks at Laura’s letter.] 
I’m lookin’ after it, Miss Laura — Miss Gillford — I’m 
lookin’ after it. [Laura seems vexed.] The General 
hurried to the front, you know. [Aside.] I don’t 
think the little deceiver will see Sherman at all, at 
all — not this year — will she, Flannigan? 

MRS. KILGORE — How I pity the private sol- 
diers. They’ll all get hurt, or something, before the 
General gets there. Do you think the dear General 
had his bath, Captain, before rushing off in such 
nasty haste? 

FLANNIGAN [coughs and laughs aside] — Oh, 
certainly ; certainly ! And a clean collar. He puts one 
on, every month. It’s a sure sign of fight, that clean 
collar is. [Noises; an officer rushes in.] 


Allatoona. 


63 


OFFICER — Quick! Quick! Is there anyone 
here who can signal? The signal officer is dead at 
his post; the garrison at Allatoona, twenty miles 
away, is surrounded and no one can tell them to hold 
on till Sherman gets there. It’s worth a million dol- 
lars to signal there this minute. The crisis is here ! 
The whole army may be lost ! 

MRS. KILGORE — Now, Laura, look — what a 
chance! Once you said you learned the signals — 
you used them with your berry girls, for fun. Pitch 
in. Now’s your chance — why don’t you volunteer 
and save your country? 

LAURA [to officer] — Oh! can I — may I — may I 
try? Am I permitted? 

OFFICER — Any money, Miss, if you can signal 
and save the army. If ever you were quick in this 
world, be quick now. The commander will be here 
in a moment. He will talk with you. 

FLANNIGAN [aside]— Thunder, she’ll see him 
in spite of me. 


64 


Allatoona. 


LAURA— Oh, I’ll try ! I’ll try ! 

OFFICER — Soldier, give her the glasses and the 
flag. [He hands them to her.] Mount this box — 
here’s the highest point of all. Here, from Kenesaw, 
we can see everywhere. Call Allatoona, quick ! 
Look among the hills to the north — there — do you 
see the fort? 

LAURA [looking steadily and long] — I see 
nothing — only hills and smoke. Make the platform 
higher. [Looks again.] Yes! Yes! I see a fort! The 
fog lifts. 

GEN. SHERMAN [entering] — Look again, 
young lady; keep cool. What do you see? 

LAURA — A fort — two forts — close together. 
They are on two hills — a deep cut or chasm divides 
them. A thin bridge, like the web of a spider, 
swinging away up in the air, crosses from one fort to 
the other. Look; men are walking on it! I see 
them. 

SHERMAN — Look again — very closely. Do you 


Allatoona. 


65 


see the fort’s embrasures? Is there no flag there? 

LAURA — No, General ; nothing — only the ends 
of the cannon and some men on the fort’s parapet. 

SHERMAN — He must be there — Corse must be 
there ! The fort is lost if he is not ! The last mes- 
sage in the night said he was hurrying across from 
Rome. He must be there! 

LAURA — Oh, look! Look! Yes, I do; I see a 
little flag above one of the cannon. Keep still — look 
— they’re waving it — they are trying to talk to us — 
they’ve seen my signal. Be still — be still — there — 
there is. a word — they’re spelling it. 

SHERMAN— What is it? 

LAURA [spells slowly] — C-o-r-s-e. [All clap 
hands.] Wait; there’s more — “Corse — is — here! 

[All excited.] 

SHERMAN— Great— that’s great! He’ll never 
surrender. Try again — be careful — what further? 

LAURA — The flag — they wave again. [She 
pauses.] 


66 


Allatoona. 


SHERMAN— Speak! What is it? 

LAURA — “French, with 5,000 men, has us sur- 
rounded. He came before daylight. Demands our 
surrender, or will kill us all. Can you help ? He has 
the black flag up.” 

SHERMAN — How many? 

LAURA — Five thousand. 

SHERMAN — And Corse but nineteen hundred. 
Try again — try again. 

LAURA — Again the flag waves. 

SHERMAN— Read it— read it! 

LAURA — The enemy advances on three sides of 
the fort at once. He gives us five minutes to sur- 
render or be stormed, and — ” 

SHERMAN — He doesn’t dare kill them — see 
again ! 

LAURA — “Our regiment outside the fort is half 
destroyed — its commander dead — cannon, ammuni- 
tion fail us — plenty in east fort, but the high bridge 


Allatoona. 


67 


is swept by musketry. They press us — they press 
us !” I myself can see the long lines storming against 
the fort. They are many deep ; an awful blaze from 
our cannon meets them. Oh, look! They waver. No; 
other lines advance behind them — only more — and 
more. Oh ! Oh ! They are climbing to the very para- 
pet. Look ; quick ! They are hurled back. Look ! I 
see the flag again. 

SHERMAN— What says it? 

LAURA — “We will not yield,” it says. “Six hun- 
dred of my men are dead or dying.” 

• SHERMAN — Quick! Tell him to hold the fort, 
for I am coming. [She waves the flag.] Tell him ten 
thouand under Howard are hurrying to the enemy’s 
rear. Signal Howard, down in the valley, to force 
everything. Tell him to burn houses, that I may see 
his advance. 

LAURA — He’s doing it — he’s doing it already! 
I see his galloping cavalry. He’s almost there. Oh, 
look at the fort ! Its terrible — they are dragging the 


68 


Allatoona. 


dead back from the embrasures. The bridge — the 
bridge ! Oh ! Men are crossing on that terrible bridge 
— they are carrying ammunition ! Look — look ! They 
are over ! Oh, the smoke — the smoke ! I can see 
nothing — it is lost — the fort is lost! [Great emotion 
by all.] Oh, it is murderous! My God! No; no! 
Look — the flag ! I see it — I see it ! 

SHERMAN— What says it? 

LAURA — “They’ve fallen back — they fly — Alla- 
toona’s saved!” [All shout, shake hands, and cry, 
Allatoona’s saved.] 

SHERMAN [to staff] — Send orders for relief 
column to hurry back — the march to the sea goes on 
— announce the great news to the army. Tell the 
soldiers a young girl helped save Allatoona. Tell 
them, in war as in peace, “readiness” is the thing. , 
Be always ready ; learn of everything — everywhere ; 
no telling when it’s wanted. This young girl learn- 
ing the signal flag as a pastime, has helped to immor- 
talize Sherman’s soldiers. [All except Sherman and 


Allatoona. 


69 


Laura go out.] Miss Gillford, come here ! What can. 
I say to you? [Kisses her o,n the forehead.] This 
day you have made yourself a name ; you have done 
a great service to your country. How can I reward 
you? 

LAURA — Oh, General Sherman; no reward! I 
ask no reward. It was all so plain a duty. I am so 
glad I could. I was afraid I could not do it — but, oh, 
I am so glad! 

SHERMAN [takes an army badge from his 
breast; pins it on Laura] — This is my badge. Wear 
it Miss Gillford for me, so long as the war shall last. 
And what further can I do for you or yours ? 

LAURA — Oh, for me — nothing! I ask nothing! 
But — but — 

SHERMAN — But — but — Speak! Have you a 
friend — a brother — a lover — in the army that I can 
benefit? 

LAURA — Did you not see my letter? 

SHERMAN — A moment only. And that was 


70 


Allatoona. 


yours? Where is your friend? He took a flag at 
Lookout Mountain, I think you wrote me — that was 
brave. He had a medal for it, did he not? He was 
rewarded. 

LAURA — He is still a private soldier. 

SHERMAN— And? 

LAURA — Oh, General ; if he could be here, near 
you — an officer. [She blushes.] I ask only this. He 
is so brave. 

SHERMAN — There’s not a vacancy of any kind. 
To create a place is never done, save for extraordi- 
nary things. Many men have taken flags ; few got 
gold medals for it. 

LAURA — Give him the chance — he will do other 
things. 

SHERMAN — I would not want on your account 
to put his life in extraordinary peril. 

LAURA — He is a soldier — try him ! He will do 
anything — go anywhere ! 


Allatoona. 


71 


SHERMAN — I believe you, but is there not 
some favor instead of this that I may grant you? 
Some 

LAURA — Oh, General, no favor so great as this. 
T would see him an officer. I would see him near 
you, wearing a sword of honor. This is my ambi- 
tion. Say yes — he will earn it — try him ! 

SHERMAN [walks about] — To please you, to 
reward you, and because he is brave — I will make a 
chance. In war, the post of honor is the post of dan- 
ger. He shall be honored in a trying undertaking 
as no other private soldier in the army has been hon- 
ored. [Pauses.] 

LAURA — Oh, General; he will deserve it! 

SHERMAN — Soon we must cross a dangerous 
river. A few miles above the ford is a strong re- 
doubt, filled with cannon. It is the key to “Gordon 
Pass.” That fort must be captured at whatever cost ! 
I propose to spike its guns before assaulting it! 
There will be work there ! I would not trust the 


72 


Allatoona. 


attempt to one soldier in a thousand. Not one man in 
a hundred escapes from such a thing alive. Your 
lover, Eldred Marshall, a private of the Tenth Regi- 
ment, shall have the honor of trying to enter that 
fort and spike its cannon. If he wins — if he sur- 
vives — 

LAURA [aside] — If he survives — survives! My 
God, what have I done? If he survives! 


[Curtain.] 


ACT III. 


[SCENE — Gordon Pass, a narrow defile in the hills 
and woods ; a small redoubt with cannon ; a few 
soldiers in gray moving about and talking out- 
side the fort.] 

FIRST SOLDIER. — What infernal fools to 
leave a dozen men here to hold an advanced fort! 
There are fords five miles below; they’ll cross the 
river and flank us. 

SECOND SOLDIER — They can’t; every man 
has gone to meet them. That’s why our Lieutenant 
took the whole company on the run. Hell ! we’re all 
right. A dozen men can hold this place ag’in a hun- 
dred. Besides, there isn’t a Yankee within a mile 
of here. 

MARIAN [entering, dressed as in Act I] — Who 
commands this battery? 


74 


Allatoona. 


SECOND SOLDIER— Nobody— that is, all of 
us — the Lieutenant’s hurried down the river where 
the fighting is. 

MARIAN — Then let me command. I hold a 
commission. I am Marian Lee, the scout. 

SOLDIERS — Bully for you! Hurrah for the 
new commander! 

MARIAN — Then, here are your orders: No 
noise ! If attacked — fight ! — hang on till help comes. 
Save these guns — mind that ! 

SOLDIER — Don’t you mind, Miss — we’ll hang 
on, all right. [A messenger dashes in out of breath.] 

MESSENGER — Gosh! I nearly killed myself 
hurryin’ here. Five miles on a dead run. The Yanks 
are crossin’ the river below. Everybody down there 
is fightin’ like hell. Colonel says, hang on ; can’t send 
you help for an hour. He wants you to hold this 
fort ! 

SOLDIERS — We’ll do it! We’ll do it! 

[Messenger takes some letters from pocket.] 


Allatoona. 


75 


MARIAN — What papers have you there? What 
are they? 

MESSENGER — Damned if I know — can’t read 
writin’ on the run, I can’t. Killed a Yank down 
there — pulled this out of his clothes. Got a watch, 
too. Look here ! What’ll you give me for it? Nick- 
el plate, guaranteed to run to the end of the war. 

MARIAN — Give me the papers. Was he killed? 

MESSENGER [gives one paper] — Killed? Well, 
I’d think ! Dead as a mackerel ; never kicked ! 

MARIAN [aside; looks at paper] — Heavens! its 
Colonel Kilgore they’ve killed! [Aloud.] What else 
have you? [Messenger gives another paper; aside.] 
Look at that ! If there isn’t a commission from the 
Governor of Iowa to Eldred Marshall ! What’s on 
the back of it? [Reads.] “This commission not to be 
delivered.” Well, well, well! Colonel Kilgore has 
kept this a secret, and here it is on his dead body. 
[Aloud.] Men, it is Colonel Kilgore, of the Tenth 
Regiment that’s killed! 


76 


Allatoona. 


MESSENGER — Of course it is; here’s his name 
on the watch. 

SOLDIERS — Huzza! Huzza! 

MESSENGER — And here’s a letter. [Gives it to 
Marian.] 

MARIAN — Ah ! it’s from the Colonel’s wife. 
She’s in camp. There’s nothing in it. [Aside.] Yes — 
yes ! Here’s Laura Gillford’s name. It’s a post- 
script. [Reads.] “Laura’s in fine health — having a 
good time, as usual, flirting with one of the Lieu- 
tenants. She knows the difference now between an 
officer and a nobody! Her eyes are opened! I 
think she is in love with the Lieutenant.” [Still 
aside.] Oh, heavens! The fates favor me! Laura 
Gillford is already deserting Eldred Marshall! So, 
she is in love with the Lieutenant! God speed her 
merrily. [Aloud, to Messenger.] You have another 
paper, boy. [He hands it to her; she glances it over 
with excitement.] Heavens! Look here, men! This 


Allatoona. 


77 


fort may be assaulted in five minutes! Here’s an 
order from General Sherman. 

SOLDIERS — Read it! Read it! 

MARIAN [reads] — “There’s a little fort at Gor- 
don Pass, five miles to the left of the enemy’s posi- 
tion. It is poorly defended, but has fine guns. I 
want it taken. Make an attack at the ford, down 
the river If the enemy leaves the fort to meet you, 
burn the white house on the hill, as a signal ! That 
moment some picked men, now hid near the fort, 
will rush in, surprise them, and spike its cannon. 
Then it can easily be assaulted. — Sherman.” 

FIRST SOLDIER— They’ll spike the guns, will 
they? Thunder, we’ll kill every man of them! 

MARIAN — Quick ! Hurry with that letter to 
the commander! 

SECOND SOLDIER — Lord! look yonder! that 
white house is burning, sure as guns ! 

MARIAN — It’s the signal. Spring to your posts 
— quick! [All go into fort.] 


78 


Allatoona. 


[Eldred and a few comrades, unobserved from 
the fort, appear with sabres and ladders.] 

ELDRED — Be cautious, men! You know your 
orders — get in there — spike the guns, though every 
one of you be killed. I will go first. [Aside.] It‘s 
like a trap of death ; but we’ll do it. [Aloud.] They 
have not seen us. Quiet — ready — follow me — 
spring! [With a yell they climb into the fort, spike 
the guns, fight hand to hand, but are driven out or 
killed. Rebel soldiers come down to front of fort — 
fight Eldred.] 

REBEL — It’s the Tenth. Remember Atlanta! 
Remember the nigger regiment! Kill every son of a 
gun! 

ALL — Remember Atlanta! 

[Eldred is overcome and falls on the ground.] 

SOLDIER — Bayonet him — he’s of the nigger 
regiment — he’s of the Tenth! 

MARIAN [suddenly rushes to where Eldred lies, 
recognizes him and cries out] — Stop! Stop! Spare 


Allatoona. 


79 


him! [Soldiers look astonished.] Go into the fort — 
leave him to me. [Soldiers go into fort.] 

MARIAN — I will save you. 

ELDRED [slow and dazed] — Who are you? 

MARIAN — I can save your life. 

ELDRED — Who — are — you ? 

MARIAN— A friend. 

ELDRED— A friend? Who— who? 

MARIAN — Do you not know me? 

ELDRED [slowly] — Your — face — [he rises] 

MARIAN— Oh, Eldred ! Oh, Eldred! Yes— Yes 
— Look at me, Eldred — look at' me! 

ELDRED — And you are here in the hell of war ! 

MARIAN — To save you! 

ELDRED — And you are my enemy? 

MARIAN— Eldred— quick ! 

ELDRED — Go away! 

MARIAN— Eldred ; Eldred Marshall! Think of 
the past— that night on the college campus — that 


80 


Allatoona. 


night you took my hand — and — and — Eldred, that 
hour — that moment — heaven spoke to me. 

ELDRED — It was a boy’s passion — it was never 
love. 

MARIAN — It was — it was — Eldred — it was ! 
From that moment to this bloody day I have been 
yours — yours in every fiber of my soul. I have died 
a hundred times for you. Oh ! I have suffered — I 
have suffered. You left the college almost without a 
word to me; and still I loved and bore; though re- 
jected, I was forever yours. You could not help it — 
I could not — God himself cannot help it when we 
love. [Full of agitation.] Look at me, Eldred! 
Speak to me! 

ELDRED [with great feeling] — I love another. 

MARIAN — No — no — no! It is not true! You 
shall not! I know her — I know her! You shall not — 
she is not worthy! 

ELDRED — What? Be careful! 

MARIAN — I know her — she will desert you. To 


Allatoona. 


81 


her, you are only a private soldier — to me, you are 
heaven ! She is ambitious. I saw her in your camp. 
She worships rank — office — 

ELDRED — You saw her? 

MARIAN — Why not? I go everywhere! I am 
a scout — a spy — for love, for love ! 

ELDRED — You saw her? 

MARIAN — Yes; a week ago — gallanting, flirt- 
ing with the officers of your camp. 

ELDRED — It is not true. 

MARIAN — It is — it is! Look here! [Shows let- 
ter.] Read this letter, from the wife of your Colonel. 
It was found on his dead body, an hour ago. 

ELDRED— Was he killed? 

MARIAN — Yes ; in the fight at the lower ford. 

ELDRED — Are we defeated? 

MARIAN — Yes — look about you. But, this let- 
ter — read it! Do I lie? [Reads it herself aloud and 
gives it to Eldred.] “Every day she rides with the 


82 


Allatoona. 


Lieutenant” [She repeats this and looks steadily at 
Eldred.] 

ELDRED — -It is a lie. 

MARIAN — It is no lie. Leave this war without 
promotion — rank — and she deserts you. 

ELDRED — I will get promotion. I have earned 
it 

MARIAN — Never! Look! there is your com- 
mission, marked, “Not to be delivered.” 

ELDRED— Villain ! 

MARIAN — She will desert you. 

ELDRED [aside] — A gipsy told me that once. 
[He looks at letter.] What does it mean? 

MARIAN [after a pause] — Eldred Marshall, let ' 
me save your life — my life. Come to one whose very 
soul is yours — who asks no title, office, rank — only 
you — you ! 

ELDRED — Marian ! 

MARIAN — Are you amazed? Dare a woman not 


Allatoona. 


83 


confess her love? I dare — I dare — here — here — in 
the awful circumstance of war — Eldred Marshall, I 
teli you, I love, I love, I love you ! 

ELDRED — It must not be. 

MARIAN — It is done. God himself cannot un- 
do it. 

ELDRED — Then we are lost. 

MARIAN — No — no — no! Not lost! Come to 
me — we are saved, rather. I have friends in the 
South. They are powerful. It was for you I entered 
this bloody business of war. Love drove — drove me. 
Let love save you. Come — leave your unjust cause. 

ELDRED— What? 

MARIAN — Come to the South — that land which 
fights not for invasion, but for its happy homes. 

ELDRED — What mean you — desert my flag? 
Marian Lee, I have sworn to die rather than see my 
country perish. 

MARIAN — It has already perished. The South 
has left it, and will fight to the bitter end. 


84 


Allatoona. 


ELDRED — This makes us enemies. 

MARIAN — No, no! Come! In the South, ad- 
vancement — love — awaits you. In the North, failure 
— desertion. Eldred Marshall, you know it. 

ELDRED [aside] — Some things come back to 
me. When I wrote her that letter, saying I would, 
if need be, forfeit love and die a private soldier — 
why did she never answer it? She is on trial! She 
does not know it. What said that gipsy once? The 
very words now used by Marian. Great God! and 
do I waver? 

MARIAN — Eldred, you now know the truth — 
you know you doubt her. 

ELDRED — No; she will be tried to the utter- 
most end. 

MARIAN — Listen! Here love is sure, Eldred. 
Act now — come! 

ELDRED — Marian, I am sorry for you. 

MARIAN — Then come. 


Allatoona. 


85 


ELDRED— Never! 

MARIAN — Eldred, speak! Do you reject my 
woman’s love? Oh! Eldred; hell is not so painful as 
a love despised! Say you do not reject me! 

ELDRED — I pity you. 

MARIAN — Do you reject? 

ELDRED — No — yes — I only pity you. 

MARIAN — Save your life, at least. 

ELDRED — If love is gone, life is not worth the 
saving. 

MARIAN — Say you love me — and you are free. 

ELDRED — What! lie to you? Be free at such 
a price? No; I am your prisoner — your people will 
kill me ; but liberty at your hands, at such a price — 
never ! 

MARIAN — You are defeated here. Sherman’s 
invading army will be lost. 

ELDRED — Lost — lost? He has a hundred 
thousand men who never were defeated. He goes 


86 


Allatoona. 


everywhere. Your slaves, your plantations — all are 
in his hands. Behind him, nothing is left but deso- 
lation. He cuts a swath in Georgia sixty miles wide, 
from Atlanta to the ocean. 

MARIAN — There are brave hands still. This 
very river’s a defense; this fort, a barrier. 

ELDRED — It falls in half an hour. 

MARIAN — What? Our guns are double loaded. 

ELDRED — Your guns are spiked. You cannot 
fire them. 

MARIAN — Spiked? When? By whom? 

ELDRED — By me. That little moment inside 
the breastwork was enough. 

MARIAN— You did it? 

ELDRED — Yes. I expected death — I ask no 
mercy. 

MARIAN — Eldred, I set you free — fly — now ! 

ELDRED — I will not. 


Allatoona. 


87 


MARIAN — Eldred, there still is time — a word — 
one word. Can you never love me? 

ELDRED — I pity you. 

MARIAN — Am I wrong? Let it be wrong. Oh ! 
Eldred; one day of such a love were better than an 
age of common worship. 

ELDRED — This is a sickness. You must 
change — cure yourself. 

MARIAN — Love-sickness asks no cure, rather 
death. [Pauses.] Am I not fair, Eldred? You. said 
it once. 

ELDRED — And say it still. 

MARIAN— Why, then? 

ELDRED — I cannot. 

MARIAN — Then go to your own lines — be 
saved ! 

ELDRED — I dare not. It were cowardice — 


shame. 


88 


Allatoona. 


MARIAN — No one shall know you were in my 
hands — go! [A soldier listens.] 

ELDRED — Better die. 

MARIAN — Then you will die. Oh ! Eldred ; 
some day — some day — will it be different? 

ELDRED [with deep feeling] — Marian, no! 

MARIAN — Not if I leave all, desert everything? 

ELDRED— What? 

MARIAN — Fly with you — leave country; be- 
tiay all all, all, but love? 

ELDRED — Marian ! 

MARIAN — Oh! love is so great! Is this betray- 
al? Him who betrays for love, the angels worship. 
Some day — some day, Eldred? 

ELDRED— No ! 

MARIAN — Do you hate me? 

ELDRED — No — no — no! 

MARIAN — Would you turn my life to black 
death ? 


Allatoona. 89 

ELDRED — I pity, pity, pity you — pity myself. 
MARIAN — Is it no more — pity, only? 
ELDRED [Federal guns heard] — I pity you. 
MARIAN — Is that all ? Fly, then ! 

ELDRED — Fly yourself. [Guns heard nearer.] 
MARIAN — Then here, quick! Take this! [Of- 
fers Eldred a dagger.] 

ELDRED — What will you have me do? 
MARIAN— Kill me ! 

ELDRED — Marian Lee ! 

MARIAN — I am not crazy, Eldred; it is only 
love — love — love ! Kill me ! 

ELDRED — Marian ! 

MARIAN — You will not? Then there is no help. 
Look ! They come for you. 

FIRST SOLDIER [to Eldred] — Prisoner, come 
— this moment! [Soldiers take Eldred off.] 

SECOND SOLDIER [to Marian] — Traitor! 
You are a traitor! 


90 


Allatoona. 


MARIAN — Back! [Threatens with dagger.] I 
am no traitor. 

SECOND SOLDIER — We heard all; you are — 
you are — here in the face of the enemy. 

MARIAN — You have your prisoner — I am no 
traitor. [To Eldred, being led away.] Too late — too 
late ! 

MESSENGER [entering in haste] — Men, fly! 
Save yourselves ! That letter of Sherman’s was a 
blind — a trick. A big force crossed the river above 
us. They are behind us. They’ll be on us in no time. 

FOURTH SOLDIER — Never! Quick, to the 
guns ! 

THIRD SOLDIER — They are spiked! 

MESSENGER — I tell you, save yourselves! 
[Some of the Rebels fly. Marian stands, dazed, in 
front of the fort.] 

MARIAN — They fly, the cowards! I have this 
yet. [Looks at dagger. Federal soldiers spring in 
and over fort, from sides and behind. A few fall, 


Allatoona. 


91 


wounded. Marian is about to stab herself, when a 
Federal officer catches the dagger.] 

OFFICER — Stop — hold! Who are you? 

MARIAN — A distracted woman. What have I 
done? I have gone mad. I am lost — he is lost ! Now 
may God’s heavens fall down on me. 

OFFICER — Who are you? [No answer.] Speak! 
Who are you ? 

MARIAN— Kill me ! 

OFFICER — We kill no woman. Speak! Are 
you an army nurse? You will be cared for. 

MARIAN— No. 

SECOND OFFICER— By God, wait! I know 
her ! I know that woman ! It’s Marian Lee, the es- 
caped spy! 

FIRST OFFICER— Answer! 

MARIAN — I — am — Marian — Lee ! 

SECOND OFFICER— Take her— bind her 
hands. She shall not escape us again. [She is bound; 


92 


Allatoona. 


Laura enters with a canteen of water ; she kneels be- 
side the wounded, gives them to drink and helps 
them; she sees Marian.] 

LAURA — What — a woman ! and hands tied ! 
Shame! Who is she? Unloose her hands! 

SECOND OFFICER — She is an escaped spy — 
she confesses it. 

LAURA — No matter; loose her. Leave her a 
little bit with me — I beg you, leave her ! 

SECOND OFFICER — A little while but not un- 
loosed. [He goes.] 

LAURA — Poor woman ! Who did this ? Who 
are you? 

MARIAN — Your prisoner. 

LAURA — Were you in the fort? 

MARIAN— Yes. 

LAURA — Fighting ? 

MARIAN— Yes. 


Allatoona. 


93 


LAURA — Were our men killed who spiked the 
cannon ? 

MARIAN— Yes. 

LAURA [shows grief and horror] All? No — not 
all — say not all ! 

MARIAN — The leader escaped. 

LAURA — Eldred, escaped? He lives? 

MARIAN — Like me, a prisoner. 

LAURA — Oh, thank you ! 

MARIAN [aside] — She does not know me. It is 
Laura Gillford! 

LAURA — They will not harm him? Say no! 

MARIAN — I cannot answer. I — 

LAURA [in anguish] — My Godl My God! 

MARIAN [aside] — Why did he not let me save 
him ? Oh ! it is not too late. Laura Gillford could 
save his life. She could help him to escape. For 
her, he’d try it. Shall I? Shall I tell her where he 
will be taken? They will give him trial — and then 


94 


Allatoona. 


— Oh ! I must save him — I must tell her ! I must ! 
What? What? And put him in Laura Gillford’s 
arms? Great God! Why should I do that? 
[With terrible excitement.] Oh, I must! I must 
do even that. He shall not die! Wait! I have it! 
Oh, what a resolve ! Love — love — love — I shall not 
surrender you! God! I will use Laura Gillford! 
She shall go — she shall save him — save him for me, 
for me! From out her very arms, I’ll snatch him 
back. If I die, if they kill me — it will be for him — 
for him! God, give me strength to tell her. [She 
pauses ; turns to Laura with assumed calmness ; 
aloud.] Miss Gillford, this is terrible. 

LAURA — I am so sorry you are a prisoner. 

MARIAN — Not if you knew me. I am Marian 
Lee ! 

LAURA [amazed] — What? The spy? 
MARIAN— Yes. 

LAURA — And you would have killed him just 
now — killed Eldred Marshall? 


Allatoona. 


95 


MARIAN — I tried to save him, when the rest 
were killed. 

LAURA — You — you tried to save him? 

MARIAN [slowly] — Because — because — 

LAURA — Marian Lee — 

MARIAN — It was my fate. I could not help it. 
Now I will die. Save him — fly to him in the prison 
at Savannah ! Quick ! Help him to escape — save 
him! [Bunker enters and falls at Marians feet.] 

BUNKER— Oh! Miss Marian! 

MARIAN — Take Bunker with you — pass the 
lines of both armies. He knows the roads, the 
swamps. Go — go! Save him! Save Eldred Mar- 
shall ! and when your arms are round his neck — 
think of poor, dead Marian Lee. 

LAURA — Oh ! Miss Lee ; you are not dead ; you 
shall not die ! 

MARIAN — If only they will shoot me like a sol- 
dier, and not hang me like a felon, I am ready. Had 


96 


Allatoona. 


they waited a moment longer, I would have taken 
my own life. 

LAURA — No, no, no! Look! With your own 
dagger I cut this rope. [She cuts rope.] Officer, 
come here. [He comes; Laura tears a badge from 
her breast.] Take this badge of gold to General 
Sherman. Tell him Laura Gillford asks the pardon 
of this girl. She must not die. Tell him to remem- 
ber Allatoona! 


[Curtain.] 


ACT IV. 


[SCENE — A fine park in Savannah, used as a pris- 
on pen ; at back, but in full view, is a box cage 
for the condemned; it is open-barred at the 
front, showing interior plainly; the ocean is in 
view; two guards walk up and down front end 
of park; some Federal prisoners move uneasily 
about; it is midnight, but lights burn brightly.] 

FIRST GUARD — It seems a shame, turning this 
beautiful city park into a pen for Yankee prisoners. 
I wonder what the people of Savannah think of it? 

SECOND GUARD — Don’t make a damned bit 
of difference. Lots of them are disloyal to the Con- 
federacy anyway. Who cares what they think? 

FIRST GUARD — They are not the only people 
tired of this war, I’ll tell you. 

SECOND GUARD— Well, I’m off duty, and 


98 


Allatoona. 


now I can read the newspaper. [Takes newspaper 
from pocket.] 

FIRST GUARD — What is there new? Let’s 
hear it. Has old Grant taken Richmond again, for 
the hundredth time? What liars these newspapers 
are ! 

SECOND GUARD— No wonder; they get all 
their news by grapevine telegraph. 

FIRST GUARD — Well, what’s up, anyway? 
Anything else? 

SECOND GUARD — Sherman is smashing 
things everywhere in Georgia. At Gordon Pass, 
though, they got a set back. A lot of desperadoes 
tried to spike our guns. I guess every mother’s son 
of them got killed. 

FIRST GUARD — No; one of them’s in here, a 
prisoner. He escaped once, but he’s caught again. 
What other news? 

SECOND GUARD — Bread’s up; costs a dollar 
a loaf now. If the Yankees don’t catch us and feed 


Allatoona. 


99 


us, we’ll all starve pretty soon. Look here ! They’ve 
hung one of our spies up North — a woman at that ! 

FIRST GUARD — No — who was it? 

SECOND GUARD — Marian Lee, the scout. 

FIRST GUARD — She’ll be avenged — mark it. 
Some fellow here will stretch for that. 

SECOND GUARD — They’re building a scaffold 
around there in the alley now, I heard. 

[Enter Eldred and another prisoner; the guards 
pass to one side.] 

ELDRED— I am a fresh fish here, Comrade — 
tell me; have any prisoners got away? 

COMRADE — Only to be killed outside. There 
is no chance. And now they will shoot anyone giv- 
ing assistance. Read that notice. [He reads on 
post.] “Notice — Any man or woman aiding a pris- 
oner to escape, will be shot on the spot.” 

ELDRED — Well, all the same, I shall try to es- 


cape. 


100 


Allatoona. 


COMRADE — They will kill you. 

ELDRED — Better dead than here. It can be 
done. It’s nerve only. With nerve one can do any- 
thing. Why, look ! I was taken at Gordon Pass, a 
month ago. They killed the others. I had nerve 
and got away from them. For ten days I roamed 
inside their lines. I donned their uniform; I joined 
one of their regiments ; I went everywhere ; I had a 
hundred adventures. I know every fort in Savan- 
nah ; every cannon ; every position. At last they 
caught me, and here I am again. I know a thousand 
times more of the enemy than Sherman does. I can 
help him take this city, and I am going to do it. I 
must get away! 

COMRADE — You will get killed. 

ELDRED — My nerve will save me. 

COMRADE — Save your life; risk nothing. 

ELDRED— Why? 

COMRADE — Somebody will lament. 

ELDRED — For me? 


Allatoona. 


101 


COMRADE — Eldred Marhall, Laura Gillford 
will lament for you; I know it. 

ELDRED — What! You know her? Do you 
know Laura Gillford? 

COMRADE — Friend — you don’t know me! In 
these rags it is no wonder. I am a Captain on Sher- 
man’s staff. I knew Miss Gillford. 

ELDRED — You — you knew her? 

COMRADE — Yes; from the moment of her 
coming to the army — from the day of the signalling 
to Allatoona. She was an army heroine. We of 
the staff admired her — paid her every attention. It 
was idle wooing. We found she was in love with 
you. From the moment of your capture at Gordon 
Pass, .she mourned, she wept for you — she talked of 
you — of you only. 

ELDRED — Was she so true! 

COMRADE — We feared for her — we tried dis- 
tractions — horseback riding — every attention — till 
we even awakened the jealousy of the Colonel’s wife. 


102 


Allatoona. 


ELDRED [aside] — I recall that letter found on 
the Colonel’ body now. It was a lie. I knew it then. 
[Aloud.] Oh, Comrade! further — what more? Tell 
me of her. 

COMRADE — We paid her a thousand atten- 
tions. At last she smiled, a little — laughed — and 
then — one day — 

ELDRED— What? 

COMRADE — She suddenfy disappeared. 

ELDRED — Oh, Comrade! Disappeared? 

COMRADE — She disappeared. 

ELDRED — God ! Disappeared ? 

[Bell rings.] 

GUARD — Prisoners, you must stand back; the 
bell rings. Fall in your places. [They retire.] 

[Laura and Bunker enter.] 

BUNKER — Yes, Miss Marian — I means Miss 
Laura — that, right there, am the prison; used to be 
a park. 


Allatoona. 


103 


LAURA — You are sure of the place, Bunker? 

BUNKER — Jes’ as sure as I is here, Miss Mari- 
an — I means Miss Laura. Wasn’t I right here that 
time when Massa Lee bo’t me and carried me off to 
his plantation in North Georgia, long ’fore de war? 
Guess you’se losin’ your mind, hain’t you, Miss 
Laura? Why, I’se jes’ as sure — jes’ as familiar with 
that ’ere park — jes’ as familiar — 

LAURA — Bunker, why do you call me Miss Ma- 
rian so often? 

BUNKER — Don’t ’zactly know, Miss Marian — 
I means Miss Laura. Does seem jes’ perfec’ly un- 
ridiculous. You know I was a sort of a body serv- 
ant of Miss Marian; was jes’ always with her, you 
know ; and then the wah broke out, and 'long comes 
you’uns and Mr. Sherman, and so, here I was, and 
everything is so confusticated, I reckin, I sometimes 
jes’ says Miss Marian, and sometimes I jes’ says 
Miss Laura. 

LAURA — You know, Bunker, they believe here 


104 


Allatoona. 


in Savannah that Miss Marian is dead — shot as a 
spy by General Sherman ! 

BUNKER— What! for the Lord’s sake! Miss 
Marian dead? Oh, Miss Laura! [He weeps.] 

LAURA — I hoped General Sherman would save 
her, even if she were a spy, out of love for me. I 
tried to save her. 

BUNKER — Well, la, sakes, Miss Laura! 

LAURA— Yes ! 

BUNKER — Well, I is sorry; I jes’ always 
knowed Miss Marian’d die sometime ! She was so 
tankiferous like. But, Lor’, Miss Laura, ’ceptin’ 
yourself, she was the pertiest and jes’ the bestest 
mistress in the state of Georgia. 

LAURA — Bunker, you have been my good an- 
gel, my true friend. Since that day at Gordon Pass; 
when Eldred was taken, you have done everything 
for me. You have guided me through the lines of 
the enemy — through woods, and swamps — through 


Allatoona. 


105 


every danger, night and day, you have been faith- 
ful. Be faithful still. 

BUNKER — Why, la, yes! You jes’ knows I is. 

LAURA — So, now we are here in Savannah ! 
What next, God only knows ! And this is the pris- 
on, and these are Eldred’s guards. [Speaks low.] 
Bunker, go back to the secret cabin in the city. If 
Eldred Marshall escapes, and comes to you, hide 
him — care for him as if he were an angel, Bunker. 

BUNKER — And that’s jes’ what he is, Miss Ma- 
rian — I means Miss Laura — and that’s jes’ what I 
calkerlate to do. You jes’ trust me. Didn’t Massa 
Eldred and Mr. Sherman come to Massa Lee’s, old 
plantation and set me free? You s’pose I’se goin’ 
to forget that? Not in this world — jes’ you trust 
me. [Exit Bunker.] 

LAURA — Here is the notorious prison pen ! My 
heart pounds within me. Can he be here? Can he? 
Can he? Oh ! I have suffered for my little, vain am- 
bition. Great God ! what sleepless nights have I not 


106 


Allatoona. 


gone through, in swamp and forest — at last to find 

this place — to find I have carried my life in 

my hands — and now — if — if — I can only help to save 
him — if, if, only at last he is here! I will try the 
guard. They cannot do more than kill me. Look! 
He turns this way. [Guard walks toward her.] I’ll 
try. [To guard.] Oh! Sentinel; is it allowed? May 
one speak one moment to a prisoner? 

SENTINEL — No; not without permission — to- 
day, not at all. This is a solemn hour for the men 
in prison. I pity them. 

LAURA — In heaven’s name, Sentinel, what is it? 

SENTINEL [drum beats] — Hear that drum? It 
is for the prisoners to assemble. One of them must 
die. 

LAURA — Must die? Sentinel, no! 

SENTINEL — Someone must die in retaliation 
for a Southern spy shot by Sherman. I know noth- 
ing further. 


LAURA — Who does? 


Allatoona. 


107 


SENTINEL — They must draw lots. 

LAURA — Sentinel, tell me — are there among the 
prisoners any taken at Gordon Pass? 

SENTINEL — Only one. The desperadoes who 
spiked our cannon there, were all killed save one or 
two. 

LAURA — Must they also draw lots? 

SENTINEL — Every man in there takes his 
chance to die. Please pass on; I am on duty and 
must not talk. 

LAURA — Oh! Sentinel; one word. You can — 
you will help me? Oh ! Sentinel; I would know the 
name of him who draws the fatal number — only his 
name. I will reward you — send it to me. 

SENTINEL— Where? 

LAURA — Here, to this address [Gives address.] 
— a house only a minute's walk from here. Do not 
ask my name. 


108 


Allatoona. 


SENTINEL — I’ll try, Miss. You have a friend 
in here? I know it. You fear for him? 

LAURA — I fear a friend may die. 

SENTINEL — In far-away Kentucky, I left a 
friend. Were I a prisoner, she would die for me. 
The South is right, but still — I’d see the flag again, 
I was born under ; I’d see my home ; I’d see my — 
LAURA — Oh ! Sentinel ; in her name — help me ! 
She, too, will reward you. 

SENTINEL — I will do no wrong — but go; you 
shall have the name. [Exit Laura.] 

[An officer places a table near the front of stage ; 
prisoners assemble ; officer prepares for drawing 
lots.] 

OFFICER [to another officer] — Let them toll 
the bell. [Bell tolls. To prisoners] Men, you under- 
stand this. General Sherman has executed a South- 
ern woman, taken in fair battle. She was a scout — 
Marian Lee. There is no law against a woman’s 
fighting for her country. The orders from Richmond 


Allatoona. 


109 


are that you shall draw lots. One of you will be 
hanged in retaliation ! Which one, will now be de- 
cided. [Great excitement and emotion.] In that 
iron kettle on the table there are as many white 
cards as there are prisoners. On one card there is a 
black cross. The one who draws that fatal cross 

PRISONER [interrupting] — Sir, we, who are 
innocent, protest! This is murder — you cannot 
force us! 

OFFICER — You must draw. There is no help. 
Fall in line, and as you pass the table, one by one, 
draw your card. 

PRISONER — This is infamy! 

OFFICER — Sherman should have thought of 

that. Ready, men ! single file [The bell still tolls 

as the men fall in line.] 

PRISONER — I have a hundred thousand dollars 
in the North ; the half of it is yours if you’ll forego 
this murder. 

OFFICER — Be careful ! Think you to bribe me 


110 


Allatoona. 


with your Yankee gold? I'll not be bribed. Guards, 
do your duty. 

PRISONER— God! What can be done? 

OFFICER — Absolutely nothing. 

PRISONER — Have you no heart — no soul? 

OFFICER — I obey my orders. 

PRISONER — He who gave them, is a fiend ! 

OFFICER — Talk is useless — go on! 

[Low music. One by one the prisoners pass the 
table and draw out cards; with utmost trepidation 
each glances at his card, and then holds it up to be 
seen * Eldred, at last, approaches, draws a card and 
holds it up; the black cross is on it; all see it and 
cry out.] 

ALL — He is lost. [Much emotion.] 

ELDRED — Comrades, it was my fate. One must 
die; let it be I. We die but once! Oh, my country! 
[Aside.] Laura — Laura — Laura! 


Allatoona. 


Ill 


PRISONERS [to officer] — Your time will come. 
It is murder! 

OFFICER — Guards, take him to the cage for the 
condemned. [Amidst great confusion, Eldred is tak- 
en away and put in the cage.] 

SECOND OFFICER [entering] — Rumors 
thicken. Sherman has changed his course, and is 
certainly marching on the city ! Strange lights are 
sent up from the Northern ships every night. They 
must expect him. Cannon signals are fired during 
the day. 

FIRST OFFICER — There is but one thing to 
do. The railroad to Charleston is still open. Direct 
orders from Richmond require us to move the pris- 
oners to Charleston the moment Savannah is really 
threatened. 

SECOND OFFICER — The train is not ready. 

FIRST OFFICER-— Make it ready to-night. We 
run the risk of a mutiny here. The prisoners are 
very sullen and talk low, in groups. 


112 


Allatoona. 


SECOND OFFICER — They will prevent the 
execution ? 

FIRST OFFICER — Twenty cannon, bearing on 
this camp, are filled to the muzzle with grape shot. 

SECOND OFFICER — We have not twenty 
guards. Everybody’s ordered to the front. I fear the 
worst. 

FIRST OFFICER — What about the prisoner in 
the cage? 

SECOND OFFICER— Men are building the 
scaffold now. To-night, do } r ou get the prisoners 
away on the train ; all except this one. I, with a few 
guards, will stay here till all is over. [Officers salute 
and go off.] 

[Laura and Bunker enter slowly at one side.] 

LAURA — The sentinel kept his word. It is 
dreadful. I wonder he could tell me. Eldred — El- 
dred is doomed! One small misstep by me and all 
is now lost. Laura Gillford, in this desperate hour, 
be thou calm! Bunker, give me the loaf of bread. 


Allatoona. 


113 


[He hands her the loaf.] They’ll not refuse bread 
for a dying man — they cannot — cannot ! Oh ! I had 
feared this, and yet I was prepared for it. He shall 
escape — he must ! I will help. Listen, Bunker { 
[Speaks lower.] In that loaf is secreted a letter to 
Eldred, and — a pocket saw. In that letter, I tell him 
to cut through the wall instantly, and wait. The 
moment the bell on the big church tower strikes 5, 
to-morrow morning, he is to spring through the 
opening, rush past the guards, whom I will keep 
from firing, and hurry to your cabin. [Aside.] They 
may shoot me for this— let them shoot! I, too, can 
be desperate. I, who was all softness, fear — now I 
could take any chance — do anything, so he but lives. 
What strength great occasion gives to us! Now I 
am like any soldier. Let them shoot — I will try it ! 
Now, heart — my heart — be brave! Bunker, go on, 
quick — to the cabin! Good-bye. [Exit Bunker; 
Laura goes up to Sentinel.] Sentinel, can this bread 
be handed to the prisoner who drew the unfortunate 
lot yesterday? Can I speak to him? 


114 


Allatoona. 


SENTINEL — I will call the Corporal. [ Calls. J 
Corporal of the Guard, Post No. 4. [Corporal en- 
ters.] The lady asks to speak to the prisoner in 
the cage. 

CORPORAL — What ! Away in the night ! It is 
not allowed! 

LAURA — For one moment — to give him bread 
— only bread to eat. 

CORPORAL — Not one moment. Give me the 
bread — he shall have it at once. [Laura hands the 
loaf.] It is a queer-shaped loaf. [Looks it over.] I 
hope it’s as good as ’tis long. 

LAURA — It is very good. I baked it myself. 
Tell him a friend in the city sends it. He must eat 
it while it’s fresh. 

CORPORAL — It shall be done, Miss. 

LAURA — I thank you. [Exit Laura.] 

CORPORAL [to Sentinel] — She can trust him 
to eat it quick, I guess. Bread doesn’t grow stale on 


Allatoona. 


115 


prisoners’ hands — not in this prison, anyway. It’s 
a confounded queer-shaped loaf, but he shall have it. 
It’s a kind of a last supper loaf for him. [He hands 
it into the cage; low music; curtain falls.] 

[SCENE 2 — Curtain rises on same scene, save that 

it is breaking day ; the dawn is red ; two soldiers 

enter.] 

FIRST SOLDIER — It must be morning. 

SECOND SOLDIER — It is nearly five. How 
beautiful the dawn! 

FIRST SOLDIER — Did you hear the guns in 
the night? 

SECOND SOLDIER — They say ten thousand 
Yankees marched on Fort McAllister. 

FIRST SOLDIER — If they took it, Savannah is 
lost. It’s the key to everything. Sherman would 
have communication with his ships. We moved the 
prisoners in the night, didn’t we? 


116 


Allatoona. 


SECOND SOLDIER— I don’t know. They’ll 
hang one to-day. 

FIRST SOLDIER— When do they hang him? 

SECOND SOLDIER — Early this morning, I 
heard. 

FIRST SOLDIER — Let’s go and see it. It won’t 
be long. Look! it’s daylight now. [Exeunt.] 

LAURA [enters and engages new sentinel in 
talk] — Sentinel, is it true the prisoners are to be 
taken away? [Eldred is seen cutting his way 
through wall; Sentinel does not observe it.] 

SENTINEL — Yes; gone in the night, Miss. 
[Laura glances to the cage.] Why do you ask? 

LAURA — I have friends among them. 

SENTINEL — You Savannah people seem to 
have many Yankee friends here. 

LAURA — I would say good-bye to one. [The 
big clock begins to strike five; aside.] The clock 
strikes — my heart stands still. [She counts.] One — 


Allatoona. 


117 


two — three— [She glances still toward the cage.] 
God! Heaven help him — help me! [Eldred climbs 
through the opening and springs away ; the Sentinel 
fires as Laura throws herself upon him and the gun 
is knocked aside; officers and soldiers rush in.] 

OFFICER — What’s that? Who fired? 

SENTINEL — Arrest her — the prisoner’s gone! 
She helped him — she stopped my killing him — take 
her ! 

OFFICER [to Laura] — Who are you? 

LAURA — Yes; take me! He is gone — he is 
Saved ! 

OFFICER — Who are you that wants to die so 
badly? Read that! [Points to proclamation.] 

LAURA — I have — I have read it ! 

‘OFFICER— Come with me! 

LAURA — Yes; I know — but he is gone — he is 
saved from you — saved — [She is led out sobbing.] 
I tell you — saved ! 


118 


Allatoona. 


SOLDIER [rushing in] — All’s too late. Fort 
McAllister was stormed at sunset — the Yankee 
ships come up the bay! 

ANOTHER SOLDIER— The outside forts are 
fallen; Sherman’s in the city! 

BUNKER [rushes in] — Thank the Lord God, 
the Stars and Stripes are wavin’ above the city of 
Savannah ! 

SOLDIER — To hell with you! 

BUNKER — I seed it with my own eyes. 

SOLDIER — To hell, you lying nigger! 

ANOTHER SOLDIER [entering]— By God, 
it’s true! The Yankee advance, with Sherman at 
their head, is upon us! Look! What shall we do? 

ELDRED [enters with some Federals] — Do? 
Surrender ; every one of you ; to an escaped prisoner 
— that’s what to do — and very quick! [They throw 
down their arms.] 

SENTINEL — What! What! You are he who 
escaped? 


Allatoona. 


119 


ELDRED — Yes; and Sherman himself will be 
here in half a minute. 

SENTINEL — They’ve got the woman who 
helped you. She’s in the cage. She knocked my 
gun aside or I had killed you. I’m glad she did. 

ELDRED — The woman ! — woman ! What wom- 
an — who? A woman sent that letter? that bread? 
that saw? The letter had no name. Bring her to me, 
quick ! 

LAURA [enters] — Eldred! Eldred ! 

ELDRED — Laura! Laura! [They embrace.] 

LAURA — Oh ! Eldred ; we have lived a hundred 
years in this! 

ELDRED — Oh ! Laura ; you have been tried — 
tried — tried — and found faithful. [Federal officers 
enter; there are cheers.] 

FEDERAL SOLDIER— Look, boys! Sherman 
himself. [Sherman enters.] 

AN OFFICER — Burn every house that held a 
prisoner. Where’s the infernal cage? 


120 


Allatoona. 


SHERMAN — No burning, men! No disorder! 
What! Look here! Why, what have we here? 
Laura Gillford ! Well, well! Come here. What has 
happened? We thought you had deserted us. 

LAURA [smiling] — Yes, but for a better, Gen- 
eral ! 

SHERMAN— And Eldred Marshall ! Well— well 
— well — and you, too ! A thousand explanations — 
speak! — both at once. 

ELDRED — She saved me from this prison, Gen- 
eral. 

SHERMAN— What! She? Miss Gillford? Ah! 
she’s good at saving. She saved the day at Alla- 
toona once. 

LAURA — Eldred, my ambition almost drove 
you to your death. 

ELDRED — Your devotion saved my life! [Ma- 
rian is brought in.] 

LAURA [taking Sherman’s hand] — Oh! Gener- 
al Sherman; there she is! You saved her — you 


Allatoona. 


saved her! You got my message and the badge! 
She is not dead ! I thank you — I thank you ! 

SHERMAN [smiling] — I think the girl who 
sent the badge to me from Gordon Pass saved her. 

[Marian is shaken with emotion.] 

ELDRED [to Laura] — Oh, I pity her! 

SHERMAN — Oh! all is well — all is well! She 
is pardoned. She once saved Marshall’s life. I know 
it all ! She was only aiding her own South as Laura 
Gillford helped her own North. All is forgiven. 
[An officer enters and whispers to Sherman, who 
takes Marian’s hand and says] Miss Lee, in this 
hour of our rejoicing, come ! I have this moment 
received great news for you ! Your father was not 
killed that morning near your old home. He got 
away — and on our entry was found here in the city. 

MARIAN [throwing herself at Sherman’s 
knees] — My father? My father? Oh! General 
Sherman — General Sherman ! 


122 


Allatoona. 


SHERMAN [lifting her up]— In half an hour he 
will be in your arms. Your father’s home — Brandon 
Hall — where we had our headquarters on the march, 
was left in perfect order. It is again his — and yours 
— Go there with him; be happy — the war is almost 
done. There’ll be no North, no South, any longer; 
but one country again — one destiny. [He turns to 

S 

Laura.] As to you, little girl [kisses her], if I were 
a preacher, I would this moment make you the wife 
of Private Eldred Marshall — from this moment a 
Captain on the General’s staff. 

LAURA AND ELDRED— Oh! General Sher- 
man ! 

SHERMAN [takes their hands] — Two gold 
medals are being made — one for the soldier who 
spiked the guns at Gordon Pass, and one for the girl 
who saved Allatoona. 

LAURA AND ELDRED— General Sherman ! 

[Tableau. As the curtain goes down, the drums 
play “Marching Through Georgia.”] 

[Curtain.] 


























